web_fetch/044_recent_justice_department_cases-1

	Check	Detail
❌	llm_judge	Judge execution failed: HTTPStatusError
✅	Measures: behavior Check Unique ID: tool_arguments_contain	Tool 'web_fetch' called with matching arguments Checks: tool_name=web_fetch; url=justice.gov; dimension=behavior
✅	Measures: capability Check Unique ID: tool_call_succeeded	web_fetch completed on call 1 Checks: tool_name=web_fetch; dimension=capability

Tool	Calls	Durations (s)	Total (s)	Avg (s)
send_message	1	27.4	27.4	27.4
shell	7	0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1	0.9	0.1
web_fetch	25	0.2, 0.1, 0.2, 0.025, 0.6, 2.5, 0.1, 0.097, 4.1, 4.6, … (+15 more)	72.5	2.9
write_file	1	0.062	0.062	0.062

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01RZUG41Qwv2qTbcz1zLkbtN

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press release API for past week", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0018

(no result)

Tool Result E0019

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":0},\"executionTime\":0.71851992607116699},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Judge Bell\\u2019s long record of public service, especially his efforts to enact FISA and champion civil rights, exemplified his dedication, integrity, and fearless pursuit of justice. He was not only an outstanding Attorney General, but also a true gentleman. The Justice Department mourns his passing.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:37:10-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738777030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e99b9547-7d65-42c6-9404-68fab0db9543\",\"name\":\"Office of the Attorney General\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-05T14:20:07-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231183207\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231156800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-001\",\"teaser\":\"\\u0022Judge Bell\\u0092s long record of public service, especially his efforts to enact FISA and champion civil rights, exemplified his dedication, integrity, and fearless pursuit of justice. He was not only an outstanding Attorney General, but also a true gentleman. The Justice Department mourns his passing.\\u0022\",\"title\":\"Statement of Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on the Death of Former Attorney General Griffin Bell\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/statement-attorney-general-michael-b-mukasey-death-former-attorney-general-griffin-bell\",\"uuid\":\"507fae43-85e6-45f6-aed3-94da8447f676\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 John B. Sawyer, a former trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston, S.C., to using excessive force during an arrest.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E During his plea, Sawyer acknowledged that he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer when, on May 26, 2006, he unnecessarily and repeatedly kicked the head and neck area of a man who had been apprehended in Sumter County after a chase on Interstate 95. Sawyer agreed that his conduct violated federal law and the constitutional rights of the arrested man.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The overwhelming majority of police officers perform their duties with honor and professionalism,\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. \\u0022However, if an officer commits a criminal act by violating another person\\u2019s civil rights, the Justice Department will not hesitate to step in and vigorously enforce the law.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022This is an important case, as the public places great trust in law enforcement to protect and serve them,\\u0022 said Walt Wilkins, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. \\u0022When an officer violates this oath, and the civil rights of those he encounters, the public\\u2019s trust is eroded and fellow officers suffer as a result. We are dedicated to prosecuting those who engage in abusive police conduct, and who tarnish the reputation of the dedicated officers who serve each day with honor and distinction.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alston C. Badger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray formerly of the Civil Rights Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:19:52-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738775992\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-05T16:50:50-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231192250\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231156800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"08-002\",\"teaser\":\"John B. Sawyer, a former trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston, S.C., to using excessive force during an arrest.\",\"title\":\"Former South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-south-carolina-highway-patrol-trooper-pleads-guilty-civil-rights-violation\",\"uuid\":\"f5304777-60c9-49b2-9f02-db5176fef320\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago advertising firm, has agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the U.S. Army, the Justice Department announced today. The firm had a contract from 2000 to 2005 with the Army to provide advertising services for the military service\\u2019s recruiting mission.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The settlement resolves allegations that Leo Burnett improperly billed the Army while developing the recruiting Web site and for advertising under the \\u0022Army of One\\u0022 multimedia advertising campaign. Leo Burnett will make a cash payment of $12.1 million and credit the Army $3.4 million in work performed, but not billed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The Justice Department is committed to vigorously pursuing all those who knowingly submit false claims with respect to military contracts,\\u0022 said Gregory G. Katsas, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. \\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E The settlement resolves the lawsuit filed on behalf of the U.S. government by former Leo Burnett employees, Greg Hamilton and Michele Casey, who received $2,790,000 as their share of the recovery in the case. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The litigation and settlement of this case were conducted by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The Pentagon\\u2019s Defense Criminal Investigative Service will aggressively pursue allegations of fraud that are perpetrated against the Department of Defense,\\u0022 said Sharon Woods, Defense Criminal Investigative Service director.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The American people trust us to ensure their tax dollars are spent appropriately and we will continue to aggressively seek out and investigate those who intend to defraud the Army and the American taxpayer,\\u0022 said Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the Inspector General for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Command - Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E This case was prosecuted as part of a National Procurement Fraud Initiative. In October 2006, the Deputy Attorney General announced the formation of a National Procurement Fraud Task Force designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The Procurement Fraud Task Force is chaired by the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division and includes the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies. This case, as well as others brought by members of the task force, demonstrate the Justice Department\\u2019s commitment to helping ensure the integrity of the government procurement process.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:21:33-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776093\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\",\"name\":\"Civil Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T12:25:11-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231262711\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-004\",\"teaser\":\"Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago advertising firm, has agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the U.S. Army. The firm had a contract from 2000 to 2005 with the Army to provide advertising services for the military service\\u0092s recruiting mission.\",\"title\":\"Chicago Advertising Firm Pays United States $15.5 Million to Settle Overbilling Allegations on Army Contract\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/chicago-advertising-firm-pays-united-states-155-million-settle-overbilling-allegations-army\",\"uuid\":\"e9c7d691-4741-4450-a6f5-c342afdbda0d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - A former chief operating officer of Investment Properties of America, based in Richmond, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and to making a material false statement to federal investigators, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Dana Boentefor the Eastern District of Virginia announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E On July 10, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Lara Coleman, 40, for her role in a scheme to defraud and obtain millions of dollars in client funds held by the 1031 Tax Group (1031TG), a qualified intermediary company owned by the same person who owned Investment Properties of America.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Coleman, a resident of Houston, entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Richmond before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of the superseding indictment that charged her with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and to a one-count information charging her with making a material false statement to federal investigators.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to the plea agreement and statement of facts, Coleman and others used 1031TG and its subsidiaries in a scheme to obtain millions of dollars of client funds by false pretenses. Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code allows investment property owners to defer the capital gains tax that would otherwise be due on properties sold, if the proceeds are used to purchase new property in a specified time frame. To facilitate such exchanges, investment property owners deposit the proceeds from the sale of their property with qualified intermediaries and sign exchange agreements, which include various promises by the qualified intermediaries to clients regarding the safekeeping of exchange funds in trust.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In the plea agreement and statement of facts, Coleman admitted that 1031TG falsely represented that it would hold client funds solely to complete the clients\\u2019 1031 exchanges. Coleman admitted that after obtaining clients\\u2019 exchange proceeds with that false promise, she and others misappropriated approximately $132 million in client funds to support the lavish lifestyle of the owner of 1031TG, pay operating expenses for the owner\\u2019s various companies, invest in commercial real estate and purchase additional qualified intermediary companies to obtain access to additional client funds. In addition, Coleman admitted that she lied to federal investigators about statements that she had made in 2006 to internal attorneys for Investment Properties of America about the amount of money that she and others had misappropriated.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Coleman has agreed, under the terms of the plea, to a sentence of 10 years in prison. At sentencing, scheduled for May 1, 2009, she also faces a $500,000 fine. In addition, the indictment seeks forfeiture of all funds and assets owned by Coleman that were derived from or connected to the misappropriation of the approximately $132 million in 1031TG funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In related cases, Robert D. Field II and Richard E. Simring have pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to defraud 1031TG customers. Field was the chief financial officer and Simring was the chief legal officer of a holding company that was\\u0026nbsp;set up, in part,\\u0026nbsp;to oversee both Investment Properties of America and 1031TG, however neither company was ever officially made a subsidiary of the holding company.\\u0026nbsp;Both\\u0026nbsp;men\\u0026nbsp;are\\u0026nbsp;also scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2009.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Dry for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Brigham Cannon of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Section. This continuing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:16:18-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738775778\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T14:54:25-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231271665\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-006\",\"teaser\":\"A former chief operating officer of Investment Properties of America, based in Richmond, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and to making a material false statement to federal investigators.\",\"title\":\"Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty in $132 Million Scheme \\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\nto Defraud Clients of Funds Allegedly Held in Trust\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-chief-operating-officer-pleads-guilty-132-million-scheme-defraud-clients-funds\",\"uuid\":\"73ff12b8-a232-4ec1-9855-8534cbefd5e6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON\\u2014Tyson Foods Inc. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum fine for willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker\\u2019s death in its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark., the Justice Department announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the information filed along with a plea agreement, Tyson operated several RVAF plants that recycled poultry products into protein and fats for the animal food industry. As part of the rendering process in four of the plants, the company used high-pressure steam processors called hydrolyzers to convert the poultry feather into feather meal.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EDecomposition of biological material such as poultry feathers produces hydrogen sulfide gas, an acute-acting toxic substance. Employees at the Tyson facilities often were exposed to the toxic gas when working on or near the hydrolyzers, which required frequent adjustment and replacement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAs of October 2003, corporate safety and regional management were aware that hydrogen sulfide gas was present in the RVAF facilities and three of the four facilities with hydrolizers had taken measures to protect employees from hydrogen sulfide gas near the hydrolyzers. However, Tyson Foods did not take sufficient steps to implement controls or protective equipment to reduce exposure within prescribed limits or provide effective training to employees on hydrogen sulfide gas at the Texarkana facility despite an identical exposure, resulting in hydrogen sulfide poisoning of an RVAF Texarkana employee in March 2002.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAs a result, at approximately 1 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2003, RVAF maintenance employee Jason Kelley was overcome with hydrogen sulfide gas while repairing a leak from a hydrolyzer and later died. Another employee and two emergency responders were hospitalized due to exposure during the rescue attempt. Two employees also were treated at the scene.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Federal laws require employers to undertake steps that limit exposure to dangerous substances like the gas that killed Jason Kelley. Tyson Foods willfully ignored these regulations and today is being held responsible,\\u0022 said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\u0022The Justice Department takes its enforcement responsibility seriously and companies that ignore these laws and risk their employees\\u2019 lives will be prosecuted.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires that employers furnish places of employment free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This includes taking steps to ensure that employee exposure to dangerous substances such as hydrogen sulfide gas remains within prescribed limits. Tyson Foods pleaded guilty today to a \\u0022willful violation of an OSHA standard resulting in the death of an employee,\\u0022 the most serious offense available to OSHA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to today\\u2019s plea agreement, Tyson Food has agreed to pay $500,000, the maximum criminal fine. The company also will serve one year probation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor and prosecuted by the Justice Department\\u0027s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Arkansas under the Environmental Crimes Section\\u2019s worker endangerment initiative.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-06T13:04:59-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738865099\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T15:02:03-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231272123\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-005\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETyson Foods Inc. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum fine for willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker\\u2019s death in its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay Fine for OSHA Violation That Led to Worker Death\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/tyson-foods-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-pay-fine-osha-violation-led-worker-death\",\"uuid\":\"1995ed1e-765f-4607-b885-792cfcc7a03b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 The President\\u2019s Corporate Fraud Task Force has been expanded to include six new agencies to help in the focus on mortgage and securitization fraud cases, Deputy Attorney General Mark R. Filip, the Task Force Chairman, announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Task Force\\u2019s expanded roster \\u003Cspan\\u003E includes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The new member agencies represent a continuing focus by the Task Force to \\u003C\\/span\\u003Ecrack down on mortgage fraud, particularly with regard to ongoing investigations into securitization fraud. The additions mark the largest expansion of the Task Force since it was formed in July 2002.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp class=\\u0022AGDraft\\u0022 style=\\u0022margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\\u0022\\u003E \\u201cThe Task Force is uniquely suited to providing the kind of thoughtfulness and collaboration that can be invaluable in tackling mortgage fraud at the corporate level, and in trying to analyze whether and when law enforcement action is appropriate,\\u201d said Deputy Attorney General Filip. \\u201cThese new members reflect the breadth and depth of the mortgage crisis that we are now confronting, and the urgency of the task before us.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In addition to remarks by the Deputy Attorney General, the Task Force was briefed today by representatives from several of the regulatory agencies on their efforts to tackle mortgage fraud and heard from the Special Inspector General of the newly formed TARP.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Task Force\\u2019s current members include the Assistant Attorneys General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil and Tax Divisions, the Director of the FBI, seven U.S. Attorneys Offices, the Secretaries of the Departments of Treasury and Labor, and the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Communications Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development\\u0027s Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Since July 2002, the task force has yielded remarkable results with nearly 1,300 corporate fraud convictions to date, including more than 200 chief executive officers and presidents, more than 120 corporate vice presidents, and more than 50 chief financial officers.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E President Bush created the President\\u2019s Corporate Fraud Task Force on July 9, 2002 to restore public and investor confidence in America\\u2019s corporations following a wave of major corporate scandals. Since its inception, the Task Force has compiled a strong record of combating corporate fraud and punishing those who violate the trust of employees and investors. Prosecutors and agency attorneys who are part of the Task Force have brought charges for accounting fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, false statements, money laundering, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, stock option backdating and conspiracy, among others. More information on the task force can be found at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/dag\\/cftf\\/\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/dag\\/cftf\\/\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E .\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:46:23-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738777583\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b2121930-8c93-4acc-8386-e8f63b538a51\",\"name\":\"Office of the Deputy Attorney General\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T16:13:23-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231276403\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-003\",\"teaser\":\"The Task Force\\u0092s expanded roster includes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The new member agencies represent a continuing focus by the Task Force to crack down on mortgage fraud, particularly with regard to ongoing investigations into securitization fraud.\",\"title\":\"President\\u0092s Corporate Fraud Task Force Adds Six New Member Agencies\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/president-s-corporate-fraud-task-force-adds-six-new-member-agencies\",\"uuid\":\"6eac10ec-f182-437e-8d57-009a9059196b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON\\u2014A multi-party settlement involving the federal government, the state of New Jersey and approximately 300 parties will ensure that clean-up efforts continue to be funded at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site Landfill (CFS) in Morris County, N.J., the Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAmong the many parties potentially responsible for contamination at the site are Honeywell International Inc., Warner-Lambert Company doing business as Pfizer, the Colgate-Palmolive Company as a successor to The Mennen Company, Mars Inc., and Waste Management.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder terms of a consent decree lodged in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., the defendants will pay at least $61 million in past costs with interest running from Dec. 8, 2007 with up to an additional $8 million as other municipal defendants join; pay more than $3.2 million for natural resource damage claims to be used for restoration projects; and purchase a $27 million annuity paying $900,000 a year for 30 years for the continued performance of the remedy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe CFS site is contaminated with both chemical wastes and refuse as a result of its use as a sanitary landfill from the early 1950s until it was closed down in 1981. A 1986 EPA Record of Decision called for the containment of the waste through a landfill cap and continuous operation of a pump and treat facility. The cap and pump and treat facility have been in place for more than 10 years. The state is currently conducting a study of the deep aquifer to determine what additional work may be required.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Today\\u2019s agreement is an excellent result that recovers money spent by federal and state agencies to clean up contamination at the site and provides funding for the remaining work for years to come,\\u0022 said Michael Guzman, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\u0022This legal action, which has spanned more than 10 years, is an example of the Justice Department\\u2019s dedication to protecting the environment and taxpayer dollars while holding those responsible for the costs of cleanup.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022With this important settlement, we are recovering most of the money that EPA and the state spent to clean up this site,\\u0022 said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Region 2 Administrator. \\u0022This is an example of Superfund working just as it should. We went forward with the cleanup while still pursuing those responsible for the contamination, with today\\u2019s successful result.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe CFS site is located in Chester and Washington Townships in Chester, N.J. Contaminants found in the ground and surface waters include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and chlorethane.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey, is subject to a 30-day federal comment period and a statutory state comment period, as well as final court approval. The consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738866667\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T16:43:50-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231278230\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-007\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA multi-party settlement involving the federal government, the state of New Jersey and approximately 300 parties will ensure that clean-up efforts continue to be funded at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site Landfill (CFS) in Morris County, N.J.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Settlement Clears Way for Continued Funding of New Jersey Superfund Cleanup\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/settlement-clears-way-continued-funding-new-jersey-superfund-cleanup\",\"uuid\":\"34d95a06-3296-4a66-97c0-b9f8470cea9b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 Dennis G. Sartain of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The judge found the tax loss to be more than $1million and the fraud loss to be nearly $3.7 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E In November 2007, a federal grand jury returned a \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/usao\\/ohs\\/Press\\/11-16-07-Col.pdf\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E superseding indictment\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E against Sartain, charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, four counts of aiding in the filing of false tax returns, one count of aiding and abetting credit and loan application fraud and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering. In February 2008, Sartain pleaded guilty to all charges. According to court documents, Sartain was the accountant for two Columbus, Ohio, businesses involved in home building and real estate brokerage services.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to the indictment, Sartain conspired with others to pay the Realtors and others who worked for these two companies \\u0022under the table.\\u0022 Court documents asserted that Sartain either prepared false Forms 1099 that underreported the amount of compensation paid to the individuals working for the companies, or he did not prepare and file any Forms 1099 with the IRS reporting any compensation paid. In addition, the superseding indictment alleged that Sartain prepared or helped prepare false individual income tax returns that underreported the income earned and taxes owed by the individuals who had received payments from these companies. Finally, the indictment claimed that Sartain and others shredded and discarded documents and business records and concealed electronic records maintained on computers and memory sticks that were relevant to the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Sartain also pleaded guilty to filing false individual income tax returns on behalf of himself and his wife. He did not report all of the income he was paid by one of these companies in the years 2001 through 2004. According to the superseding indictment, in two of those four years, Sartain listed his occupation as \\u0022unemployed.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Additionally, Sartain admitted aiding in the submission of a false loan application by helping submit false payroll check stubs to a mortgage company. The false payroll stubs misrepresented the loan applicant\\u2019s position and salary for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Finally, Sartain aided and abetted money laundering by engaging in conduct that contributed to a $54,295 payment to the buyer of a home sold by a local real estate business, according to court documents. That payment represented excess fraudulently obtained loan proceeds derived from the credit and loan application fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Today\\u2019s sentence shows that taxpayers who fail to comply with their federal tax obligations or assist others in doing so will pay a heavy price,\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\u2019s Tax Division. \\u0022Mr. Sartain has been branded a convicted felon for the rest of his life, will spend ten years in prison, and still has to pay back all of the taxes plus interest and steep penalties.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Paying individuals \\u2018under the table\\u2019 in an effort to circumvent the tax laws is criminal activity,\\u0022 said Eileen Mayer, IRS Chief, Criminal Investigation. \\u0022Unfortunately, there are individuals who are relentless in their efforts to thwart our nation\\u0027s tax laws; however, we are equally relentless in our efforts to investigative these individuals and hold them accountable.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In addition to the charges for which he was sentenced today, Sartain faces additional charges stemming from a September 2008 indictment for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. This matter is currently scheduled for a December 2008 trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Assistant Attorney General Hochman commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Jill M. Cassara and Sean B. O\\u2019 Connell, who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E More information about the Justice Department\\u2019s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/tax\\/\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/tax\\/\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:38:26-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738777106\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\",\"name\":\"Tax Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T17:30:31-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231281031\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-008\",\"teaser\":\"Dennis G. Sartain of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. The judge found the tax loss to be more than $1million and the fraud loss to be nearly $3.7 million.\",\"title\":\"Columbus, Ohio, Accountant Sentenced to 120 Months for Fraud\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/columbus-ohio-accountant-sentenced-120-months-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"47b886cf-2bbd-4860-942f-6bacbcd0d6f9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment today charging U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent, 59, with aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. Kent was previously indicted on Aug. 28, 2008, on one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of abusive sexual contact of a clerk\\u2019s office employee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The superseding indictment charges three counts based on alleged offenses involving an additional victim who is also a court employee. The first two additional counts charge Kent with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. The third count of the superseding indictment charges obstruction of justice related to an inquiry by a special investigative committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit into a complaint of judicial misconduct filed against Kent by the clerk\\u0027s office employee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Chief for Litigation Peter J. Ainsworth and Trial Attorneys John P. Pearson and AnnaLou T. Tirol of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Section Chief William M. Welch II. This case is being investigated by the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:31:19-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776679\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-06T19:01:40-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231286500\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231243200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-009\",\"teaser\":\"A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment today charging U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent, 59, with aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice.\",\"title\":\"U.S. District Court Judge Charged in Superseding Indictment with Aggravated Sexual Abuse \\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\nand Abusive Sexual Contact\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/us-district-court-judge-charged-superseding-indictment-aggravated-sexual-abuse-and-abusive\",\"uuid\":\"3c7ad51a-0de1-4ab2-b983-7a8d5dfae8ef\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 A federal court in Sacramento, Calif., issued a preliminary injunction ordering Capitol Waste Inc. and Iva and Kenneth Whitmire of Sacramento to comply with federal employment tax withholding requirements and to timely pay all present and future employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax liabilities, the Justice Department announced today. Capitol Waste, Inc. and the Whitmires agreed to the preliminary injunction order.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Justice Department filed suit on Oct. 8, 2008, seeking to enjoin the defendants from interfering with the administration of the Internal Revenue laws. The complaint alleges that the defendants have failed to comply fully with Capitol Waste\\u2019s employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax obligations since 2000. According to the complaint, Capitol Waste failed to pay almost $2.6 million in federal employment and unemployment taxes between 2000 and 2007.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to court documents, Capitol Waste is a commercial waste disposal business based in Sacramento County, Calif. The complaint also alleges that the Whitmires have failed to comply with their individual income tax obligations since 2000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Capitol Waste, Inc. was also ordered to file of all of its back employment, unemployment and income tax returns, and the Whitmires are required to file all of their back individual income tax returns within 90 days. The court order also prevents Capitol Waste from transferring any assets that would prevent timely payment of all present and future tax liabilities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022All employers must comply with federal employment tax laws,\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Tax Division. \\u0022Employers face not only a federal court injunction for failing to withhold and pay federal taxes, but also significant civil penalties and, in some cases, criminal prosecution. When employers fail to withhold FICA and income taxes, they are harming their employees as well as the United States, and the government will take action.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Assistant Attorney General Hochman thanked Tax Division trial attorney Adair F. Boroughs, who is handling the case for the government, for her efforts. More information about the Justice Department and its efforts to enforce the federal employment tax laws is available at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/tax\\/\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/tax\\/\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:22:59-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776179\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\",\"name\":\"Tax Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-07T10:29:20-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231342160\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231329600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-010\",\"teaser\":\"A federal court in Sacramento, Calif., issued a preliminary injunction ordering Capitol Waste Inc. and Iva and Kenneth Whitmire of Sacramento to comply with federal employment tax withholding requirements and to timely pay all present and future employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax liabilities. Capitol Waste, Inc. and the Whitmires agreed to the preliminary injunction order.\",\"title\":\"Court Orders Sacramento Employer to Timely Pay Withholding and Unemployment Taxes\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/court-orders-sacramento-employer-timely-pay-withholding-and-unemployment-taxes\",\"uuid\":\"dcd89c49-29ee-4330-96a6-cb5287cfc69b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 The Department of Justice announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging three Staten Island, N.Y., men with conspiring to assault African-Americans in retaliation for President-Elect Barack Obama\\u2019s election victory.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Ralph Nicoletti and Michael Contreras, both 18, and Brian Carranza, 21, were arrested late Tuesday and are scheduled for arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann in Brooklyn. As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, on the night of Nov. 4, 2008, shortly after learning of Barack Obama\\u2019s election victory, the group, along with a fourth friend, decided to find African-Americans to assault.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022It is shocking and sobering that allegations of racial violence continue in this day and age,\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0022The Justice Department takes these allegations very seriously and the Civil Rights Division, working with U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country, will continue to use federal laws to prosecute individuals who conspire to commit such acts of violence and intimidation.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E As cited in the indictment and other court filings, Nicoletti allegedly drove the other defendants to Park Hill, a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Staten Island, where they came upon a 17-year-old African-American who was walking home after watching the election at a friend\\u2019s house. One of the defendants yelled \\u0022Obama!\\u0022 as they passed the youth, and all four men then got out of the car and beat him, using a metal pipe and a collapsible police baton. The young man, who managed to escape and run home, suffered injuries to his head and legs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The group then found an African-American man in the Port Richmond section of Staten Island and assaulted him, pushing him to the ground. The defendants also accosted a Latino man, demanding to know for whom he had voted, and later yelled profanities about Obama as they drove past an Election Night gathering of African-Americans at a hair salon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The group\\u2019s final assault involved a man they mistakenly believed to be African-American, whom they spotted walking along Blackford Avenue in Port Richmond. Nicoletti hit him with the car, causing the victim to be thrown onto the hood of the car and into the front windshield, shattering it. Although the victim survived, he was in a coma for a period of time after the attack.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In addition to Becker, the charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph M. Demarest, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Violence and intimidation aimed at interfering with the constitutional rights of every citizen, including the right to vote, which is the bedrock of democracy, will not be tolerated,\\u0022 stated United States Attorney Campbell. \\u0022Such conduct is loathsome and despicable, and those who engage in it will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful for our partnership with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, the FBI, and the New York City Police Department, which has been vital to the success of this joint investigation and prosecution.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Demarest stated, \\u0022The defendants, motivated by racial animus, committed violent assaults resulting in real, and in one case near-fatal, injuries. But the Election Night assaults, coming on the day when we participate most directly in our democracy, were also an attack on the democratic process and an affront to everyone. The FBI is committed to civil rights enforcement and policing hate crimes.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E NYPD Commissioner Kelly stated, \\u0022I want to commend the NYPD detectives and their federal partners who pursued this case, particularly NYPD Inspector Michael J. Osgood, who as Commanding Officer of the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force had the foresight to assign a special team on Election Night until 4 a.m. the next morning. These officers were able to respond quickly to the bias attacks and begin an immediate investigation. They located an eyewitness to one of the attacks, and their subsequent distribution of flyers in the Rosebank area of Staten Island over three days led to the first major break in the case. History was made on Election Day. We wanted to make sure those who tried to retaliate did not escape justice.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The government\\u2019s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Pamela K. Chen and Margo K. Brodie and Special Litigation Counsel Kristy Parker.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:35:55-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776955\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-07T14:39:30-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231357170\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231329600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-011\",\"teaser\":\"The Department announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging three Staten Island, N.Y., men with conspiring to assault African-Americans in retaliation for President-Elect Barack Obama\\u0092s election victory.\",\"title\":\"Three Staten Island, NY Men Indicted\\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\non Federal Hate Crime Conspiracy Charges\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/three-staten-island-ny-men-indicted-federal-hate-crime-conspiracy-charges\",\"uuid\":\"2d49d66e-ac94-4511-be1b-10351b50bff1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON\\u2014Five defendants associated with the construction of the Liberty Village housing development in Lynchburg, Va., will pay a $300,000 penalty and fund more than $1 million in stream and wetlands restoration work for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and permit restrictions during construction, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe settlement with Savoy Senior Housing Corporation, Savoy Liberty Village LLC, SDB Construction, Inc., Best G.C., Inc., and Acres of Virginia, Inc., was part of a consent decree lodged today in the Western District of Virginia by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the EPA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe consent decree would resolve allegations that the defendants discharged and\\/or controlled and directed the discharge of pollutants including dredged and\\/or fill material, sediment, and other pollutants carried by stormwater into waters of the United States during the construction of a housing development without required permits, and then in violation of the stormwater permit after one was obtained.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecifically, the defendants allegedly buried existing streams on the site and filled wetlands that formed the headwaters of one of the filled streams. Silt and sediment from the construction activities were also discharged into streams on and off the site and flowed downstream to Pine Lake and beyond.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe current owner of the property, Liberty Ridge, LLC, which is not a defendant, has agreed to implement approximately $250,000 in on-site restoration work, which will be funded by the defendants. The defendants will also pay approximately $825,000 to purchase credits to fund stream and wetland restoration projects in the region.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe alleged Clean Water Act violations at the Liberty Village site, located at 5700 Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg, Va., occurred from July 2001 through January 2003 when the defendants cleared and graded the site, installed roads and utilities, and completed or partially built several housing units. In the process, the defendants allegedly destroyed approximately 3,765 feet of stream, and wetlands at the headwaters of tributaries to the Roanoke and James Rivers. Silt and sediment were discharged into streams on and off the site and flowed downstream to Pine Lake and beyond.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThese waters are important for flood control, nutrient and sediment retention, filtration, water quality improvement and maintenance of healthy aquatic ecological communities for other water bodies down stream. As the result of defendants\\u2019 actions, water now flows downstream faster and at a higher temperature, killing or stressing aquatic animals and plants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe site restoration plan requires restoration of one stream, restoration and enhancement of four ponds, installation of plantings, and eradication of invasive species in certain areas. The consent decree also prohibits future disturbances of the restoration project area. A copy of the decree will be filed with the Circuit Court in Virginia and each future deed, title, or other conveyance instrument must contain a notice stating that the property is subject to this consent decree.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice Web site at: \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about wetlands and permitting requirements, go to: \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.epa.gov\\/owow\\/\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.epa.gov\\/owow\\/\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E . For more information on stormwater and permitting requirements, go to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/cfpub.epa.gov\\/npdes\\/home.cfm?program_id=6\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/cfpub.epa.gov\\/npdes\\/home.cfm?program_id=6\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738866667\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-07T17:09:16-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231366156\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231329600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-013\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFive defendants associated with the construction of the Liberty Village housing development in Lynchburg, Va., will pay a $300,000 penalty and fund more than $1 million in stream and wetlands restoration work for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and permit restrictions during construction.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Settlement Reached in Virginia Stream and Stormwater Case\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/settlement-reached-virginia-stream-and-stormwater-case\",\"uuid\":\"7a1433d3-2c1f-4219-8cfa-09da2396ec3a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members alleging that the defendants intimidated voters and those aiding them during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Philadelphia, alleges that, during the election, Minister King Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson were deployed at the entrance to a Philadelphia polling location wearing the uniform of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and that Samir Shabazz repeatedly brandished a police-style baton weapon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Intimidation outside of a polling place is contrary to the democratic process,\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker. \\u0022The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to protect the fundamental right to vote and the Department takes allegations of voter intimidation seriously.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to the complaint, party Chairman Malik Zulu Shabazz confirmed that the placement of Samir Shabazz and Jackson in Philadelphia was part of a nationwide effort to deploy New Black Panther Party members at polling locations on Election Day. The complaint alleges a violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits intimidation, coercion or threats against \\u0022any person for voting or attempting to vote.\\u0022 The Department seeks an injunction preventing any future deployment of, or display of weapons by, New Black Panther Party members at the entrance to polling locations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, which claims active chapters nationwide, is distinct from the Black Panther Party founded by Bobby Seale in the 1960s.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Civil Rights Division enforces the Voting Rights Act of 1965. To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931. More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice\\u2019s web site at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/crt\\/voting\\/index.htm\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E www.usdoj.gov\\/crt\\/voting\\/index.htm\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:25:43-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776343\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-07T18:10:08-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231369808\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231329600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-014\",\"teaser\":\"The Department today filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members alleging that the defendants intimidated voters and those aiding them during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.\",\"title\":\"Justice Department Seeks Injunction \\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\nAgainst New Black Panther Party\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-seeks-injunction-against-new-black-panther-party\",\"uuid\":\"959f1c45-4b92-4c47-9d1b-e74b8d5ec498\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 The owner and operator of two Miami medical clinics has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Orlando Pascual Jr., 43, pleaded guilty on Jan. 7, 2009, to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud before U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro. In his plea, Pascual admitted that he co-owned two Miami clinics named Medcore Group LLC (Medcore) and M\\u0026amp;P Group of South Florida Inc. (M\\u0026amp;P) that purported to specialize in the treatment of HIV-positive patients. Pascual admitted that beginning in August 2004 and continuing through November 2006 he conspired with others to submit approximately $5.3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Pascual also pleaded guilty to two separate schemes to launder the proceeds of the health care fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E During the plea, Pascual admitted that Medcore and M\\u0026amp;P were operated for the purpose of defrauding Medicare, that the treatments for infused or injected drugs were not medically necessary, and that he and others paid cash kickbacks to the patients for every visit to the clinic. To obtain all the cash necessary to pay the patients, Pascual stated that he and others would write checks that appeared legitimate to people who would cash the checks and then return the cash to them for a fee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Pascual acknowledged that most patients were HIV-positive or were given false diagnoses of cancer. He stated during the plea that he and others used physicians, a physician\\u2019s assistant and phlebotomists to help facilitate the scheme. In addition, Pascual acknowledged that clinic employees intentionally manipulated patients\\u2019 blood samples so that they would appear to need treatment, when in fact they did not. Pascual stated that such tampering was done to make the medical files appear legitimate.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Pascual is currently incarcerated for Medicare fraud involving the operation of a durable medical equipment (DME) company in Miami from 2001 to 2003. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for April 3, 2009.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Seven co-defendants in the case are scheduled for trial beginning Feb. 9, 2009, in the Southern District of Florida. An indictment is merely a charge, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Kirk Ogrosky and Assistant Chief John S. \\u0022Jay\\u0022 Darden of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Section and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General and FBI. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), supervised by the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney Acosta of the Southern District of Florida. Since the inception of MFSF operations, federal prosecutors have indicted 106 cases with 189 defendants in both Los Angeles and Miami. Collectively, these defendants fraudulently billed the Medicare program for more than half a billion dollars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:20:32-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776032\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-08T09:55:58-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231426558\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231416000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-015\",\"teaser\":\"The owner and operator of two Miami medical clinics has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme.\",\"title\":\"Medical Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Role in $5.3 Million \\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\nMedicare Fraud Scheme\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/medical-clinic-owner-pleads-guilty-role-53-million-medicare-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"a97ea75f-681d-4b17-98f3-626db6cf6f15\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 A former executive of an Orange County, Calif.-based valve company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to numerous foreign government officials, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O\\u2019Brien of the Central District of California and Joseph Persichini Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Washington Field Office announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Mario Covino, 44, an Italian citizen and resident of Irvine, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James V. Selna in Santa Ana, Calif., to a one-count information charging him with conspiring to make corrupt payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of securing business for the Orange County valve company from state-owned enterprises in several countries, including Brazil, China, India, Korea, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to court documents, the valve company designed and manufactured service control valves for use in the nuclear, oil and gas, and power generation industries worldwide. Covino was the director of worldwide factory sales at the valve company from March 2003 through August 2007. In this position, Covino was responsible for overseeing new construction projects and the replacement of existing valves made by other companies and installed at customer plants in more than 30 countries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In connection with his guilty plea, Covino admitted that from March 2003 through August 2007, he caused employees and agents of the valve company to make corrupt payments totaling approximately $1 million to foreign officials employed at state-owned enterprises in order to assist in obtaining and retaining business for the valve company. Covino also admitted that the valve company earned approximately $5 million in profits from the contracts it obtained as a result of these corrupt payments. According to the court documents, the corrupt payments were made to foreign officials at state-owned entities including, but not limited to, Petrobras (Brazil), Dingzhou Power (China), Datang Power (China), China Petroleum, China Resources Power, China National Offshore Oil Company, PetroChina, Maharashtra State Electricity Board (India), KHNP (Korea), Petronas (Malaysia), Dolphin Energy (UAE) and Abu Dhabi Company for Oil Operations (UAE).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Covino also admitted to providing false and misleading responses to internal auditors during a 2004 internal audit of the company\\u2019s commission payments, and to deleting emails and instructing others to delete emails that referred to corrupt payments, for the purpose of obstructing the internal audit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E As part of his plea agreement, Covino has agreed to cooperate with the Department in its ongoing investigation. At sentencing, scheduled for July 20, 2009, Covino faces a maximum of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorney Andrew Gentin of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McCormick of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California. The case was investigated by the FBI\\u2019s Washington Field Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:24:22-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776262\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-08T13:18:29-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231438709\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231416000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-016\",\"teaser\":\"A former executive of an Orange County, Calif.-based valve company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to numerous foreign government officials.\",\"title\":\"Former Executive at California Valve Company\\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\nPleads Guilty to Bribing Foreign Government Officials\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-executive-california-valve-company-pleads-guilty-bribing-foreign-government-officials\",\"uuid\":\"e414d497-999c-464b-bdf0-21289890f54a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON\\u2014The Explorer Pipeline Company has agreed to pay a $3.3 million civil penalty in order to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from a July 14, 2007, spill of over 6,500 barrels (approximately 275,000 gallons) of jet fuel from its interstate pipeline at a location near Huntsville, Texas, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States\\u2019 complaint, which was filed on Oct. 2, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, alleges that Explorer discharged oil into navigable waters of the United States in violation of the Clean Water Act. On July 14, 2007, Explorer\\u2019s 28-inch interstate refined petroleum products pipeline ruptured near Huntsville and jet fuel spilled onto the surrounding area and into nearby Turkey Creek. Turkey Creek flows to the Trinity River at the upper reaches of Lake Livingston.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EIn earlier responses to the spill, Explorer replaced the section of pipe that ruptured, completed cleanup of the impacted waters and adjoining shorelines, is cooperating in a joint federal and state natural resource damage assessment, and commenced additional assessment and followup work under a Corrective Action Order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Oil spills into our nation\\u2019s waters endanger public health and the environment and warrant concerted enforcement efforts,\\u0022 said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\u0022Today\\u2019s settlement achieves an appropriate result and furthers our enforcement mission.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022This settlement is the result of coordination and cooperation between a number of federal and state entities. EPA is committed to working with its state and federal partners to ensure a strong water protection program,\\u0022 said Richard E. Greene, EPA Regional Administrator.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. The penalty paid for this spill will be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution Fund Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal response activities and to compensate for damages when there is a discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances to waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe proposed consent decree, lodged in the Southern District of Texas, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice website at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738866667\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-08T14:38:06-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231443486\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231416000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-017\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Explorer Pipeline Company has agreed to pay a $3.3 million civil penalty in order to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from a July 14, 2007, spill of over 6,500 barrels (approximately 275,000 gallons) of jet fuel from its interstate pipeline at a location near Huntsville, Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Oklahoma Pipeline Company to Pay Penalty for Jet Fuel Spill\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/oklahoma-pipeline-company-pay-penalty-jet-fuel-spill\",\"uuid\":\"235bb6e1-af73-46db-bc68-eccb2fa9e32a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2014 A retired major in the U.S. Army pleaded guilty today to charges of bribery and making a false statement arising out of his activities as both a contracting specialist and a contracting officer at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from 2005 through 2007, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting Assistant Attorney General Deborah A. Garza of the Antitrust Division announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EChristopher H. Murray, 41, a resident of Cataula, Ga., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land in U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ga., to a five-count information charging him with four counts of bribery and one count of making a false statement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the information, in 2005 and 2006, Murray served as a contracting specialist in the small purchases branch of the contracting office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where he was responsible for soliciting bids for military contracts, evaluating the sufficiency of those bids, and then recommending the award of contracts to particular contractors. In this capacity, Murray admitted he received approximately $225,000 in bribes from DOD contractors in exchange for recommending the award of contracts for various goods and services.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the information, Murray admitted that when he returned to Kuwait in fall 2006 as a contracting officer, he received an additional $20,000 in bribes from a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor in exchange for the award of a construction contract. When confronted with evidence of his criminal conduct, Murray admitted he made false statements to federal agents investigating this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EMurray faces up to 15 years in prison on each bribery count, as well as a criminal fine of $250,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value for each count. Murray also faces up to five years in prison on the false statement charge as well as a fine of $250,000. The maximum fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Murray abused his position of trust by awarding contracts to those willing to pay him bribes,\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich. \\u0022There are no more important purchases made by the federal government than those of goods and services used by our men and women in uniform.\\u0026nbsp; Procurement officers who sacrifice their positions of trust for the sake of personal enrichment can expect to be prosecuted.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022The Antitrust Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit bribery and other offenses, which deprive the U.S. military and, ultimately, U.S. taxpayers, of a competitive market,\\u0022 said Deborah A. Garza, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department\\u0027s Antitrust Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022SIGIR vigorously continues to pursue investigations into allegations of fraud in Iraq,\\u0022 said Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. \\u0022Maj. Murray grossly abused his position of trust, committing multiple acts of fraud for which he will now pay a just price. This successful investigation was part of ongoing cooperative efforts being carried out by SIGIR and our law enforcement partners.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EBrig. Gen. Rodney Johnson of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said this guilty plea is just another example of how seriously his criminal investigators and the U.S. Army take these criminal acts of greed and how determined he and his special agents are to bring these people to justice. \\u0022People who do business with the U.S. military should know by now that if they violate the public\\u2019s trust and commit criminal acts, they will be caught by a team of highly-trained professionals looking for this type of criminality. We will not stand for it,\\u0022 said Johnson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022The American public expects military officers to behave in an aboveboard manner,\\u0022 said James R. Ives, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service\\u2019s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. \\u0022The vast majority of officers are disciplined, law abiding professionals who serve with honor. Duty, accountability, responsibility and integrity inspire their attitudes and actions. Officers who fail to live up to these standards erode public support for the military and undermine confidence in government. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service remains committed to working with the Department of Justice to ensure officials who betray the public trust are held firmly accountable.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EToday\\u2019s charges represent the Department\\u2019s commitment to protecting U.S. taxpayers from procurement fraud through its creation of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force. The National Procurement Fraud Initiative, announced in October 2006, is designed to promote the early detection, prosecution, and prevention of procurement fraud associated with the increase in contracting activity for national security and other government programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Richard B. Evans of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Chief William M. Welch II, and Trial Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher, Emily W. Allen and Finnuala Kelleher of the Antitrust Division\\u2019s National Criminal Enforcement Section, which is headed by Chief Lisa Phelan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being investigated by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the FBI; and the Internal Revenue Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EPlea Agreement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-06T08:17:29-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738847849\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-08T15:53:12-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231447992\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231416000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-018\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA retired major in the U.S. Army pleaded guilty today to charges of bribery and making a false statement arising out of his activities as both a contracting specialist and a contracting officer at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from 2005 through 2007.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\",\"title\":\"Retired Army Major Pleads Guilty in Bribery SchemeInvolving Department of Defense Contracts in Kuwait\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/retired-army-major-pleads-guilty-bribery-schemeinvolving-department-defense-contracts-kuwait\",\"uuid\":\"fdd6189a-4697-4061-a61f-95bdc84ef974\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., returned a superseding indictment against Micaela Renee Dutson and her husband, Tony Dutson, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Dutsons were originally indicted May 8, 2008, on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States of more than $8 million and failed to file income taxes. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 5, 2008.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe superseding indictment adds charges that the Dutsons attempted to obstruct the IRS in its attempt to enforce the tax laws by filing lawsuits, baseless liens and multiple Forms 1099-OID against IRS employees. The indictment alleges that the baseless liens claimed a debt owed by the IRS employees to the defendants totalling $1,003,680,000,000. According to the superseding indictment, the Forms 1099-OID falsely claimed payment of millions of dollars to IRS employees who were investigating the defendants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe superseding indictment also includes charges that the Dutsons presented five fictitious financial obligations totalling approximately $9,903,870 for use by their clients in purported payment of IRS debts. It further includes a charge that the Dutsons willfully aided and assisted the filing of a false 2002 federal tax return by clients.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022This indictment shows that the government will not tolerate taxpayers\\u2019 use of bogus financial instruments to pay tax debts and IRS forms as a means to harass IRS employees,\\u0022 said Tax Division Assistant Attorney General Nathan J. Hochman. \\u0022Under the National Tax Defier Initiative launched in April 2008, the Tax Division has committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax defiers and all others who use baseless arguments and fictitious documents to evade their tax liabilities.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Obstruction is a crime that does not pay in Oregon - we will aggressively investigate and prosecute attempts by those who obstruct revenue agents and officers from doing their jobs,\\u0022 said U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022The IRS works quickly to identify and stop these nuisance schemes aimed at harassing honest taxpayers and the government,\\u0022 said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Eileen Mayer. \\u0022We take seriously these types of actions that attempt to impede our ability to administer efficient tax administration. Today\\u0027s indictment signals our determination to hold accountable those who engage in this type of frivolous activity.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Failure to file tax returns carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison for each offense. Obstructing the internal revenue laws carries a maximum penalty of up to three years for each offense. Using fictitious financial instruments carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years for each count. Aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns carries a maximum penalty of up to three years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EA criminal indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt. Each of these defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges stem from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T14:43:46-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738784626\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\",\"name\":\"Tax Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-08T17:37:29-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231454249\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231416000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-019\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., returned a superseding indictment against Micaela Renee Dutson and her husband, Tony Dutson. The Dutsons were originally indicted May 8, 2008, on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States of more than $8 million and failed to file income taxes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\",\"title\":\"Two Former Oregon Residents Now Residing in Arizona Indicted for Obstructing IRS Investigation and Other Tax Crimes\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-former-oregon-residents-now-residing-arizona-indicted-obstructing-irs-investigation-and\",\"uuid\":\"62ddff79-20b0-4d6f-8229-d9124ec90f78\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 The Department of Justice has filed a forfeiture action against accounts worth nearly $3 million that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members in connection with various public work projects, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The forfeiture action was filed Jan. 8, 2009, in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia against funds located in Singapore held by multiple account holders. The forfeiture complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Arafat \\u0022Koko\\u0022 Rahman, the son of the former prime minister of Bangladesh, in connection with public works projects awarded by the government of Bangladesh to Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company.\\u0026nbsp; According to the forfeiture complaint, the majority of funds in Koko\\u2019s account are traceable to bribes allegedly received in connection with the China Harbor project, which was a project to build a new mooring containment terminal at the port in Chittagong, Bangladesh.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022This action shows the lengths to which U.S. law enforcement will go to recover the proceeds of foreign corruption, including acts of bribery and money laundering,\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich. \\u0022Not only will the Department, for example, prosecute companies and executives who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we will also use our forfeiture laws to recapture the illicit facilitating payments often used in such schemes.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Siemens AG), a German corporation, and three of its subsidiaries pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2008, to violations of and charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Specifically, Siemens Bangladesh admitted that from May 2001 to August 2006, it caused corrupt payments of at least $5,319,839 to be made through purported business consultants to various Bangladeshi officials in exchange for favorable treatment during the bidding process on a mobile telephone project.\\u0026nbsp; At least one payment to each of these purported consultants was paid from a U.S. bank account.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to the forfeiture complaint, the bribe payments from Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company were made in U.S. dollars, and the illicit funds flowed through financial institutions in the United States before they were deposited in accounts in Singapore, thereby subjecting them to U.S. jurisdiction. Money laundering laws in the United States cover financial transactions that flow through the United States involving proceeds of foreign offenses, including foreign bribery and extortion.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In August 2006, the President announced a National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts Against Kleptocracy to fight high-level corruption around the world. This strategy combines the policy and law enforcement tools of several federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury, State and Homeland Security.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Linda Samuel and Trial Attorney Frederick Reynolds of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division\\u2019s Office of International Affairs. The case was investigated by the FBI\\u2019s Washington Field Office in cooperation with Bangladeshi law enforcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:19:52-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738775992\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-09T14:12:40-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231528360\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231502400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-020\",\"teaser\":\"The Department has filed a forfeiture action against accounts worth nearly $3 million that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members in connection with various public work projects.\",\"title\":\"Department of Justice Seeks to Recover Approximately $3 Million \\u003Cbr \\/\\u003E\\r\\nin Illegal Proceeds from Foreign Bribe Payments\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/department-justice-seeks-recover-approximately-3-million-illegal-proceeds-foreign-bribe\",\"uuid\":\"99c74405-a551-4b82-a2f5-4e68acc17d7a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON \\u2013 Roy M. Belfast Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga today to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta for the Southern District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Belfast, a\\/k\\/a Chuckie Taylor, Charles Taylor Jr., Charles Taylor II and Charles McArther Emmanuel, was convicted on October 30, 2008, by a federal jury after a six-week trial of five counts of torture, one count of conspiracy to torture, one count of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of conspiracy to use a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The lengthy prison term handed down today justly reflects the horror and torture that Taylor Jr. visited upon his victims. This case was made in no small part by the courage of individual victims who had the mettle to come forward and speak the truth about what had been done to them,\\u0022 Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division said. \\u0022Our message to human rights violators, no matter where they are, remains the same: We will use the full reach of U.S. law, and every lawful resource at the disposal of our investigators and prosecutors, to hold you fully accountable for your crimes.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to trial testimony, Belfast, who was born in the United States and is the son of the former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, commanded a paramilitary organization known as the Anti-Terrorist Unit, which was directed to provide protection for the Liberian president and additional dignitaries of the Liberian government. Between 1999 and 2003, in his role as commander of that unit, Belfast and his associates committed numerous and varied forms of torture, including burning victims with molten plastic, lit cigarettes, scalding water, candle wax and an iron; severely beating victims with firearms; cutting and stabbing victims; and shocking victims with an electric device.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022There is justice today for the many victims of Chuckie Taylor\\u0022, said John P. Torres, Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. \\u0022This sentence ensures that he pays for his barbaric acts. I want to thank the more than one hundred ICE agents, attorneys, victim advocates and other federal partners whose meticulous investigative work and coordination led to this landmark conviction.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022This sentence sends a resounding message that torture will not be tolerated here at home or by U.S. nationals abroad,\\u0022 said Executive Assistant Director Arthur M. Cummings, II, of the FBI National Security Division. \\u0022The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate such acts wherever they occur.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E On March 30, 2006, Belfast attempted to enter the United States with a passport obtained through false statements submitted on his passport application, and was arrested. Belfast pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2006, to passport fraud and was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2007, to 11 months in prison on that charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Belfast\\u2019s prosecution on the torture charges was the first ever under a statute that criminalizes torture and provides U.S. courts jurisdiction to hear cases involving acts of torture committed outside the United States if the offender is a U.S. national or is present in the United States, regardless of nationality.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The case was jointly investigated by ICE and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Rochlin and Caroline Heck Miller of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Chris Graveline of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Domestic Security Section. National Security Division Trial Attorney Brenda Sue Thornton and Criminal Division Attorneys John Cox, John-Alex Romano, Michael Surgalla, and Pragna Soni also provided assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:47:08-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738777628\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-09T15:00:44-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231531244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231502400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-021\",\"teaser\":\"Roy M. Belfast Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga today to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003.\",\"title\":\"Roy Belfast Jr., A\\/K\\/A Chuckie Taylor, Sentenced on Torture Charges\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/roy-belfast-jr-aka-chuckie-taylor-sentenced-torture-charges\",\"uuid\":\"bb49095b-e376 [...truncated 13350 characters...] industry. Principal uses include ore processing, fertilizer manufacturing, oil refining, wastewater processing and chemical synthesis.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EEPA is focusing on improving compliance among industries that have the potential to cause significant amounts of air pollution, including the cement manufacturing, glass manufacturing and acid production industries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe states of Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma, and the Northern Arapaho Tribe, joined the federal government in the agreement. Of the total penalty, $460,000 will be paid to the federal government and $240,000 will be paid to the three states. In Ohio, part of the money will be used to fund a clean diesel school bus project and a tree planting project.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe consent decree, lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EMore information on the settlement: \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/enrd\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738866667\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-12T12:19:31-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231780771\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231761600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-025\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThree manufacturers of sulfuric acid have agreed to spend at least $12 million on air pollution controls that are expected to eliminate more than 3,000 tons of harmful emissions annually from six production plants in Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Chemtrade Logistics, Chemtrade Refinery Services and Marsulex also will pay a civil penalty of $700,000 under the Clean Air Act settlement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Sulfuric Acid Manufacturers Agree to Reduce Air Pollution at Facilities\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/sulfuric-acid-manufacturers-agree-reduce-air-pollution-facilities\",\"uuid\":\"9c7036e9-7349-41a6-b328-2c2aa5f58ca3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Gary, Ind., alleging job discrimination against six individuals on the basis of their race, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Department\\u2019s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, alleges that the six individuals applied for emergency medical technician (EMT) positions with the city and were subsequently placed on a hiring list that stated that offers of employment would be based on the rank order of the individuals listed. The complaint further alleges that the city failed to offer EMT positions to any of the six individuals, all of whom are white, while offering EMT positions to several other individuals, all of whom are African-American, and that each of these six complainants ranked higher than the lowest-ranked applicant to receive a job offer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Federal law guarantees equal access to employment opportunities without regard to race,\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u0022The Department is committed to enforcing all the federal civil rights laws, including Title VII, under its jurisdiction.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Title VII prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion, and prohibits retaliation against an employee who opposes an unlawful employment practice, or because the employee has made a charge or participated in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under the act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The continued enforcement of Title VII has been a priority of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. More information is available at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/crt\\/emp\\/index.html\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/crt\\/emp\\/index.html\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:34:38-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776878\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-12T15:57:35-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231793855\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231761600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-026\",\"teaser\":\"The Department announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Gary, Ind., alleging job discrimination against six individuals on the basis of their race, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended).\",\"title\":\"Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Race Discrimination Against Job Applicants by City of Gary, Ind.\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-files-lawsuit-alleging-race-discrimination-against-job-applicants-city\",\"uuid\":\"d5af91e3-509c-43c9-b945-40cd7eb42007\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit on behalf of James O. Alston, a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, against Hawthorne Paint Co. Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of the employee\\u2019s past, current or future military obligations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Department\\u2019s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., alleges that the company violated USERRA by terminating Mr. Alston from his position as a supervisor based on his military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2004 to June 2006, and by discharging him without cause, a week from his date of reinstatement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022No one should lose their civilian job for serving our country as a member of the military,\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. \\u0022Our servicemen and women sacrifice for our nation, and particularly in this time of conflict, the Justice Department is committed to fully protecting the employment rights of our men and women in uniform.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Department of Justice\\u2019s lawsuit was filed after the Veterans\\u2019 Employment and Training Service of the Department of Labor referred a complaint filed by Mr. Alston under USERRA to the Department of Justice upon completion of its investigation and unsuccessful settlement efforts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division places a high priority on the enforcement of service members\\u2019 rights under USERRA. Last year, the Division filed 12 USERRA suits, the largest number since receiving enforcement authority in September 2004.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Additional information about USERRA is available at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\u0022 target=\\u0022_self\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E www.servicemembers.gov\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, and on the Department of Labor Web site at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dol.gov\\/vets\\/programs\\/userra\\/main.htm\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E \\u003Cspan\\u003E www.dol.gov\\/vets\\/programs\\/userra\\/main.htm\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/span\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:33:26-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776806\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-12T16:34:34-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231796074\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231761600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-027\",\"teaser\":\"The Department today filed a lawsuit on behalf of James O. Alston, a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, against Hawthorne Paint Co. Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of the employee\\u0092s past, current or future military obligations.\",\"title\":\"Justice Department Files Suit Against Paint Company to Defend Employment Rights of N.J. Army National Guardsman\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-files-suit-against-paint-company-defend-employment-rights-nj-army-national\",\"uuid\":\"d5b17cd7-95fd-4a78-9f03-51d01ef815de\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON- Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Department of Justice announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E In addition to the $5 million penalty, Rite Aid and all of its subsidiaries agreed to a compliance plan with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure compliance with all requirements of the CSA and applicable DEA regulations and to prevent diversion of controlled substances. The compliance plan also requires Rite Aid to implement a pseudoephedrine and ephedrine tracking system in each of its 4,915 stores that is designed to prevent the abuse of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products, which are used to make methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to information contained in the agreement, the DEA conducted an investigation of 53 separate Rite Aid locations starting in 2004. The investigation revealed a pattern of violations of the CSA, including:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cul\\u003E \\u003Cli\\u003EAt pharmacies in Kentucky and New York, Rite Aid knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose pursuant to a valid physician-patient relationship;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E \\u003Cli\\u003EAt five pharmacies in Maryland, four pharmacies in New York and 13 pharmacies in California, Rite Aid failed to notify the DEA in a timely manner of significant thefts and losses of controlled substances, thus permitting the diversion of controlled substances to continue and undermining DEA\\u2019s ability to investigate such thefts and\\/or losses;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E \\u003Cli\\u003EAt pharmacies in California, Pennsylvania and Maryland, Rite Aid either failed to maintain or failed to furnish to the DEA upon request records that are required to be kept under the CSA for a period of two years; \\u003C\\/li\\u003E \\u003Cli\\u003EAt all 53 pharmacies in all eight states, Rite Aid failed to properly execute DEA forms used to ensure that the amount of Schedule II drugs ordered by Rite Aid were actually received.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E \\u003C\\/ul\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Additionally, the DEA conducted accountability audits of controlled substances at 25 of the 53 stores investigated to determine whether Rite Aid could properly account for Schedule II and III controlled substances purchased and dispensed. The results of the accountability audits revealed significant shortages or surpluses of the most highly abused drugs, including oxycodone and hydrocodone products, reflecting a pattern of non-compliance with the requirements of the CSA and federal regulations that lead to the diversion of controlled substances in and around the communities of the Rite Aid pharmacies investigated.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Congress regulates prescription medications because of their powerful and potentially harmful effects,\\u0022 said Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip. \\u0022Today\\u0027s settlement will help to curb illegal access to these dangerous drugs that can often be abused.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022This settlement demonstrates the important responsibilities all pharmacies have to prevent dangerous drugs from being diverted from their intended use,\\u0022 said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. \\u0022The civil penalties paid today are just one example of DEA\\u0027s determination to combat the troubling prescription drug abuse problem in this country by pursuing pharmacies that fail to comply with the law. Our nation\\u0027s pharmacies must play a major role in the fight against drug abuse, so that together we can protect public health and keep our communities safe.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E As part of the compliance plan agreed to as part of the settlement, Rite Aid has agreed to audit each pharmacy to ensure that all of its controlled substances are maintained securely and that each pharmacy is compliant with the requirements of the CSA. Additionally, Rite Aid will physically count all Schedule II controlled substances quarterly and physically count hydrocodone and alprazolam products yearly. Currently, the CSA only requires registrants like Rite Aid to physically count Schedule II controlled substances biennially and estimate Schedule III products biennially.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Rite Aid has also agreed to design and implement an electronic system to document and link all sales transactions involving non-prescription products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine at each of the 4,915 Rite Aid locations in the country. The new system will be designed to prevent individuals from obtaining illegal amounts of these products by visiting different pharmacy locations. In the event an individual attempts to make a purchase that would exceed either the daily or 30-day limit for purchase of non-prescription products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, the new system will alert the employee to halt the transaction and a record of the attempted purchase will be made and reported to the DEA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The CSA is the primary federal law regulating the flow of controlled substances into the marketplace for medical purposes.\\u0026nbsp; Strict compliance with the CSA is required in order to prevent the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession and improper use of controlled substances. The Act authorizes the imposition of a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each record keeping or reporting violation and a penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation involving legally deficient prescriptions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E The settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by Rite Aid nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Rite Aid is headquartered in Camp Hill, Pa., and operates 4,915 stores in 31 states. Violations resolved by the settlement occurred in eight states and 11 judicial districts, including the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York; District of Maryland; Eastern District of Kentucky; Eastern and Central Districts of California; Eastern District of Virginia; District of New Jersey; and the Eastern District of Michigan. The settlement was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from each of the 11 judicial districts in which violations occurred. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division\\u2019s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. The investigation in this matter was conducted by the DEA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:48:16-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738777696\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9662639e-b9a0-44da-8b87-c3f1562b616b\",\"name\":\"Office of Public Affairs\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-12T17:36:54-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231799814\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231761600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-028\",\"teaser\":\"Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).\",\"title\":\"Rite Aid Corporation and Subsidiaries Agree to Pay $5 Million in Civil Penalties to Resolve Violations in Eight States of the Controlled Substances Act\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/rite-aid-corporation-and-subsidiaries-agree-pay-5-million-civil-penalties-resolve-violations\",\"uuid\":\"13e6406f-e16c-457f-b277-6cd098ddb66f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Today\\u2019s report describes troubling conduct by a former supervisor in the Civil Rights Division prior to his departure from the Division nearly three years ago. The mission of the Justice Department is the evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, and that mission has to start with the evenhanded application of the laws within our own Department. As today\\u2019s report makes clear, Mr. Schlozman deviated from that strict standard.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The Department agrees with the recommendations outlined in the report and has already taken steps to implement them. In addition, the Civil Rights Division has taken additional steps to update its own hiring policies and to increase the role of career employees in its hiring process. As a result of these reforms, and the procedures already in place for evaluating the work and conduct of lawyers throughout the Department, we are confident that the institutional problems identified in today\\u2019s report no longer exist and will not recur.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:27:32-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738776452\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9662639e-b9a0-44da-8b87-c3f1562b616b\",\"name\":\"Office of Public Affairs\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-13T10:07:42-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231859262\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231848000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-029\",\"teaser\":\"\\u0022Today\\u0092s report describes troubling conduct by a former supervisor in the Civil Rights Division prior to his departure from the Division nearly three years ago. The mission of the Justice Department is the evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, and that mission has to start with the evenhanded application of the laws within our own Department. As today\\u0092s report makes clear, Mr. Schlozman deviated from that strict standard.\\u0022\",\"title\":\"Statement by Peter A. Carr, Acting Director of Public Affairs, Regarding Report on Civil Rights Division Hiring\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/statement-peter-carr-acting-director-public-affairs-regarding-report-civil-rights-division\",\"uuid\":\"eb0eb20b-e09f-4395-b85c-b7fa97d0f1a5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E WASHINGTON - Peter Zavell, a medical doctor in Florence, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return for the year 2000, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service(IRS) announced today. Zavell was scheduled to begin trial in Florence before Judge R. Bryan Harwell today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Zavell was indicted in August 2007 for conspiracy to impede the IRS and for filing false returns for years 2000 and 2001. According to the indictment, Zavell used the \\u0022Look Back\\u0022 and \\u0022Look Forward\\u0022 programs, marketed by Anderson Ark and Associates (AAA) to create fictitious entities and business transactions intended to eliminate his tax obligations. The tax loss relative to the scheme was $244,784.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E According to the indictment, Zavell used the AAA Look Back program to set up a sham partnership for the purpose of reporting false expenses and eliminating his individual tax liabilities. The indictment alleges that, through the AAA Look Forward program, Dr. Zavell created a sham partnership with which his medical practiced allegedly engaged in fictitious business contracts. The purpose and result of this fictitious business relationship was to generate false business expenses for his medical practice and substantially reduce the business tax obligations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022Dr. Zavell joins more than a dozen other AAA customers who now wear the lifelong title \\u2018convicted felon\\u2019 for their participation in illegal tax fraud scams,\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\u2019s Tax Division. \\u0022This is just one more example of the government\\u2019s commitment to investigate and prosecute those who fail to comply with their federal tax obligations.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E \\u0022The IRS aggressively investigates those who use abusive financial arrangements to hide the true ownership of assets and income; it is a matter of maintaining public confidence in the fairness of the tax laws,\\u0022 said Eileen Mayer, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. \\u0022If individuals choose to participate in abusive tax schemes, they will be held accountable and criminally prosecuted.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss charges against Zavell\\u2019s wife, Susan Zavell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Judge Harwell did not set a sentencing date. Zavell faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E \\u003Cp\\u003E Assistant Attorney General Hochman commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Kevin C. Lombardi and Gregory R. Bockin, who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222025-02-05T12:40:37-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1738777237\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\",\"name\":\"Tax Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222009-01-13T16:33:54-05:00\\u0022\\u003E1231882434\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1231848000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"09-030\",\"teaser\":\"Peter Zavell, a medical doctor in Florence, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return for the year 2000. Zavell was scheduled to begin trial in Florence before Judge R. Bryan Harwell today.\",\"title\":\"South Carolina Doctor Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/south-carolina-doctor-pleads-guilty-filing-false-tax-return\",\"uuid\":\"16abbe22-b232-4311-9f27-1adfde5ec725\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2014 KIK (Virginia) LLC pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Virginia to a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act and agreed to pay a $75,000 criminal fine and $25,000 in community service payments for negligent discharges of bleach to the sanitary sewer system in Salem, Va.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EKIK (Virginia) operated a facility in Salem that manufactured bleach and other household products. On Sept. 4, 2003, local authorities discovered elevated concentrations of bleach in the sanitary sewer lines servicing the KIK (Virginia) facility. An investigation revealed that at that time and for a number of years before, under previous owners, employees at the plant washed bleach that had been spilled in the production and bottling process and off-specification bleach into the plant\\u2019s floor drains. The floor drains channeled the bleach into the plant\\u2019s drainage system, which lead to Salem\\u2019s sanitary sewer system, operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority. The plant did not have a permit to discharge bleach to the sewer system and did not monitor its discharges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Clean Water Act prohibits discharges into a sewer system of any pollutants that the discharger knows could cause property damage. Bleach is a corrosive chemical that, in sufficient concentration, may damage metal and other materials used in the sewer system and is considered a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Keeping our sewer systems and public treatment works in good condition is a key part of maintaining and improving the quality of our waterways,\\u0022 said Eileen Sobek, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\u0022We take seriously our obligation to prosecute those whose conduct risks harm to these important systems.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe $25,000 in community service payments will be divided equally between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Environmental Education Fund for use in projects to improve water quality in the Salem area. In addition to the criminal fine and community service payment, KIK (Virginia) has agreed to serve one year of probation, during which it will continue to develop and implement an environmental management system that it began developing during the investigation. It also will complete an environmental audit conducted by an independent auditor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Dumping bleach into the city\\u0027s sewer system risked causing damage to both its sewage treatment equipment and the environment,\\u0022 said David Dillion, EPA\\u0027s Special Agent in Charge in Philadelphia. \\u0022It is appropriate that, in addition to the fine, the company will be required\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\ [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01RZUG41Qwv2qTbcz1zLkbtN, 3 events)

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":0},\\\"executionTime\\\":0.71851992607116699},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Judge Bell\\\\u2019s long record of public service, especially his efforts to enact FISA and champion civil rights, exemplified his dedication, integrity, and fearless pursuit of justice. He was not only an outstanding Attorney General, but also a true gentleman. The Justice Department mourns his passing.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:37:10-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777030\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e99b9547-7d65-42c6-9404-68fab0db9543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-05T14:20:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231183207\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231156800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-001\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u0022Judge Bell\\\\u0092s long record of public service, especially his efforts to enact FISA and champion civil rights, exemplified his dedication, integrity, and fearless pursuit of justice. He was not only an outstanding Attorney General, but also a true gentleman. The Justice Department mourns his passing.\\\\u0022\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Statement of Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on the Death of Former Attorney General Griffin Bell\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/statement-attorney-general-michael-b-mukasey-death-former-attorney-general-griffin-bell\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"507fae43-85e6-45f6-aed3-94da8447f676\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON   \\\\u2013 John B. Sawyer, a former trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston, S.C., to using excessive force during an arrest.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  During his plea, Sawyer acknowledged that he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer when, on May 26, 2006, he unnecessarily and repeatedly kicked the head and neck area of a man who had been apprehended in Sumter County after a chase on Interstate 95. Sawyer agreed that his conduct violated federal law and the constitutional rights of the arrested man.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The overwhelming majority of police officers perform their duties with honor and professionalism,\\\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. \\\\u0022However, if an officer commits a criminal act by violating another person\\\\u2019s civil rights, the Justice Department will not hesitate to step in and vigorously enforce the law.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022This is an important case, as the public places great trust in law enforcement to protect and serve them,\\\\u0022 said Walt Wilkins, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. \\\\u0022When an officer violates this oath, and the civil rights of those he encounters, the public\\\\u2019s trust is eroded and fellow officers suffer as a result. We are dedicated to prosecuting those who engage in abusive police conduct, and who tarnish the reputation of the dedicated officers who serve each day with honor and distinction.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alston C. Badger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray formerly of the Civil Rights Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:19:52-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738775992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-05T16:50:50-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231192250\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231156800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"08-002\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"John B. Sawyer, a former trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston, S.C., to using excessive force during an arrest.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-south-carolina-highway-patrol-trooper-pleads-guilty-civil-rights-violation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f5304777-60c9-49b2-9f02-db5176fef320\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago advertising firm, has agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the U.S. Army, the Justice Department announced today. The firm had a contract from 2000 to 2005 with the Army to provide advertising services for the military service\\\\u2019s recruiting mission.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The settlement resolves allegations that Leo Burnett improperly billed the Army while developing the recruiting Web site and for advertising under the \\\\u0022Army of One\\\\u0022 multimedia advertising campaign. Leo Burnett will make a cash payment of $12.1 million and credit the Army $3.4 million in work performed, but not billed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The Justice Department is committed to vigorously pursuing all those who knowingly submit false claims with respect to military contracts,\\\\u0022 said Gregory G. Katsas, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division.    \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The settlement resolves the lawsuit filed on behalf of the U.S. government by former Leo Burnett employees, Greg Hamilton and Michele Casey, who received $2,790,000 as their share of the recovery in the case. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The litigation and settlement of this case were conducted by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The Pentagon\\\\u2019s Defense Criminal Investigative Service will aggressively pursue allegations of fraud that are perpetrated against the Department of Defense,\\\\u0022 said Sharon Woods, Defense Criminal Investigative Service director.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The American people trust us to ensure their tax dollars are spent appropriately and we will continue to aggressively seek out and investigate those who intend to defraud the Army and the American taxpayer,\\\\u0022 said Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the Inspector General for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Command - Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  This case was prosecuted as part of a National Procurement Fraud Initiative. In October 2006, the Deputy Attorney General announced the formation of a National Procurement Fraud Task Force designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The Procurement Fraud Task Force is chaired by the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division and includes the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies. This case, as well as others brought by members of the task force, demonstrate the Justice Department\\\\u2019s commitment to helping ensure the integrity of the government procurement process.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:21:33-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776093\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T12:25:11-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231262711\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-004\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago advertising firm, has agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the U.S. Army. The firm had a contract from 2000 to 2005 with the Army to provide advertising services for the military service\\\\u0092s recruiting mission.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chicago Advertising Firm Pays United States $15.5 Million to Settle Overbilling Allegations on Army Contract\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/chicago-advertising-firm-pays-united-states-155-million-settle-overbilling-allegations-army\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e9c7d691-4741-4450-a6f5-c342afdbda0d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - A former chief operating officer of Investment Properties of America, based in Richmond, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and to making a material false statement to federal investigators, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Dana Boentefor the Eastern District of Virginia announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  On July 10, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Lara Coleman, 40, for her role in a scheme to defraud and obtain millions of dollars in client funds held by the 1031 Tax Group (1031TG), a qualified intermediary company owned by the same person who owned Investment Properties of America.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Coleman, a resident of Houston, entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Richmond before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of the superseding indictment that charged her with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and to a one-count information charging her with making a material false statement to federal investigators.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to the plea agreement and statement of facts, Coleman and others used 1031TG and its subsidiaries in a scheme to obtain millions of dollars of client funds by false pretenses. Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code allows investment property owners to defer the capital gains tax that would otherwise be due on properties sold, if the proceeds are used to purchase new property in a specified time frame. To facilitate such exchanges, investment property owners deposit the proceeds from the sale of their property with qualified intermediaries and sign exchange agreements, which include various promises by the qualified intermediaries to clients regarding the safekeeping of exchange funds in trust.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In the plea agreement and statement of facts, Coleman admitted that 1031TG falsely represented that it would hold client funds solely to complete the clients\\\\u2019 1031 exchanges. Coleman admitted that after obtaining clients\\\\u2019 exchange proceeds with that false promise, she and others misappropriated approximately $132 million in client funds to support the lavish lifestyle of the owner of 1031TG, pay operating expenses for the owner\\\\u2019s various companies, invest in commercial real estate and purchase additional qualified intermediary companies to obtain access to additional client funds. In addition, Coleman admitted that she lied to federal investigators about statements that she had made in 2006 to internal attorneys for Investment Properties of America about the amount of money that she and others had misappropriated.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Coleman has agreed, under the terms of the plea, to a sentence of 10 years in prison. At sentencing, scheduled for May 1, 2009, she also faces a $500,000 fine. In addition, the indictment seeks forfeiture of all funds and assets owned by Coleman that were derived from or connected to the misappropriation of the approximately $132 million in 1031TG funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In related cases, Robert D. Field II and Richard E. Simring have pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to defraud 1031TG customers. Field was the chief financial officer and Simring was the chief legal officer of a holding company that was\\\\u0026nbsp;set up, in part,\\\\u0026nbsp;to oversee both Investment Properties of America and 1031TG, however neither company was ever officially made a subsidiary of the holding company.\\\\u0026nbsp;Both\\\\u0026nbsp;men\\\\u0026nbsp;are\\\\u0026nbsp;also scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2009.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Dry for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Brigham Cannon of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section. This continuing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:16:18-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738775778\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T14:54:25-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231271665\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-006\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A former chief operating officer of Investment Properties of America, based in Richmond, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and to making a material false statement to federal investigators.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty in $132 Million Scheme \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nto Defraud Clients of Funds Allegedly Held in Trust\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-chief-operating-officer-pleads-guilty-132-million-scheme-defraud-clients-funds\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ff12b8-a232-4ec1-9855-8534cbefd5e6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014Tyson Foods Inc. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum fine for willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker\\\\u2019s death in its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark., the Justice Department announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the information filed along with a plea agreement, Tyson operated several RVAF plants that recycled poultry products into protein and fats for the animal food industry. As part of the rendering process in four of the plants, the company used high-pressure steam processors called hydrolyzers to convert the poultry feather into feather meal.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDecomposition of biological material such as poultry feathers produces hydrogen sulfide gas, an acute-acting toxic substance. Employees at the Tyson facilities often were exposed to the toxic gas when working on or near the hydrolyzers, which required frequent adjustment and replacement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs of October 2003, corporate safety and regional management were aware that hydrogen sulfide gas was present in the RVAF facilities and three of the four facilities with hydrolizers had taken measures to protect employees from hydrogen sulfide gas near the hydrolyzers. However, Tyson Foods did not take sufficient steps to implement controls or protective equipment to reduce exposure within prescribed limits or provide effective training to employees on hydrogen sulfide gas at the Texarkana facility despite an identical exposure, resulting in hydrogen sulfide poisoning of an RVAF Texarkana employee in March 2002.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a result, at approximately 1 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2003, RVAF maintenance employee Jason Kelley was overcome with hydrogen sulfide gas while repairing a leak from a hydrolyzer and later died. Another employee and two emergency responders were hospitalized due to exposure during the rescue attempt. Two employees also were treated at the scene.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Federal laws require employers to undertake steps that limit exposure to dangerous substances like the gas that killed Jason Kelley. Tyson Foods willfully ignored these regulations and today is being held responsible,\\\\u0022 said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022The Justice Department takes its enforcement responsibility seriously and companies that ignore these laws and risk their employees\\\\u2019 lives will be prosecuted.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires that employers furnish places of employment free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This includes taking steps to ensure that employee exposure to dangerous substances such as hydrogen sulfide gas remains within prescribed limits. Tyson Foods pleaded guilty today to a \\\\u0022willful violation of an OSHA standard resulting in the death of an employee,\\\\u0022 the most serious offense available to OSHA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to today\\\\u2019s plea agreement, Tyson Food has agreed to pay $500,000, the maximum criminal fine. The company also will serve one year probation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor and prosecuted by the Justice Department\\\\u0027s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Arkansas under the Environmental Crimes Section\\\\u2019s worker endangerment initiative.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:04:59-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738865099\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T15:02:03-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231272123\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-005\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyson Foods Inc. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum fine for willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker\\\\u2019s death in its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay Fine for OSHA Violation That Led to Worker Death\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/tyson-foods-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-pay-fine-osha-violation-led-worker-death\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1995ed1e-765f-4607-b885-792cfcc7a03b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The President\\\\u2019s Corporate Fraud Task Force has been expanded to include six new agencies to help in the focus on mortgage and securitization fraud cases, Deputy Attorney General Mark R. Filip, the Task Force Chairman, announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E    The Task Force\\\\u2019s expanded roster   \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  includes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The new member agencies represent a continuing focus by the Task Force to \\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003Ecrack down on mortgage fraud, particularly with regard to ongoing investigations into securitization fraud. The additions mark the largest expansion of the Task Force since it was formed in July 2002.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022AGDraft\\\\u0022 style=\\\\u0022margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E    \\\\u201cThe Task Force is uniquely suited to providing the kind of thoughtfulness and collaboration that can be invaluable in tackling mortgage fraud at the corporate level, and in trying to analyze whether and when law enforcement action is appropriate,\\\\u201d said Deputy Attorney General Filip. \\\\u201cThese new members reflect the breadth and depth of the mortgage crisis that we are now confronting, and the urgency of the task before us.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In addition to remarks by the Deputy Attorney General, the Task Force was briefed today by representatives from several of the regulatory agencies on their efforts to tackle mortgage fraud and heard from the Special Inspector General of the newly formed TARP.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Task Force\\\\u2019s current members include the Assistant Attorneys General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil and Tax Divisions, the Director of the FBI, seven U.S. Attorneys Offices, the Secretaries of the Departments of Treasury and Labor, and the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Communications Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development\\\\u0027s Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Since July 2002, the task force has yielded remarkable results with nearly 1,300 corporate fraud convictions to date, including more than 200 chief executive officers and presidents, more than 120 corporate vice presidents, and more than 50 chief financial officers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  President Bush created the President\\\\u2019s Corporate Fraud Task Force on July 9, 2002 to restore public and investor confidence in America\\\\u2019s corporations following a wave of major corporate scandals. Since its inception, the Task Force has compiled a strong record of combating corporate fraud and punishing those who violate the trust of employees and investors. Prosecutors and agency attorneys who are part of the Task Force have brought charges for accounting fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, false statements, money laundering, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, stock option backdating and conspiracy, among others. More information on the task force can be found at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/cftf\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/cftf\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E .\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:46:23-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777583\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2121930-8c93-4acc-8386-e8f63b538a51\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Deputy Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T16:13:23-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231276403\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-003\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Task Force\\\\u0092s expanded roster includes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The new member agencies represent a continuing focus by the Task Force to crack down on mortgage fraud, particularly with regard to ongoing investigations into securitization fraud.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"President\\\\u0092s Corporate Fraud Task Force Adds Six New Member Agencies\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/president-s-corporate-fraud-task-force-adds-six-new-member-agencies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6eac10ec-f182-437e-8d57-009a9059196b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014A multi-party settlement involving the federal government, the state of New Jersey and approximately 300 parties will ensure that clean-up efforts continue to be funded at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site Landfill (CFS) in Morris County, N.J., the Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAmong the many parties potentially responsible for contamination at the site are Honeywell International Inc., Warner-Lambert Company doing business as Pfizer, the Colgate-Palmolive Company as a successor to The Mennen Company, Mars Inc., and Waste Management.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder terms of a consent decree lodged in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., the defendants will pay at least $61 million in past costs with interest running from Dec. 8, 2007 with up to an additional $8 million as other municipal defendants join; pay more than $3.2 million for natural resource damage claims to be used for restoration projects; and purchase a $27 million annuity paying $900,000 a year for 30 years for the continued performance of the remedy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe CFS site is contaminated with both chemical wastes and refuse as a result of its use as a sanitary landfill from the early 1950s until it was closed down in 1981. A 1986 EPA Record of Decision called for the containment of the waste through a landfill cap and continuous operation of a pump and treat facility. The cap and pump and treat facility have been in place for more than 10 years. The state is currently conducting a study of the deep aquifer to determine what additional work may be required.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s agreement is an excellent result that recovers money spent by federal and state agencies to clean up contamination at the site and provides funding for the remaining work for years to come,\\\\u0022 said Michael Guzman, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022This legal action, which has spanned more than 10 years, is an example of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s dedication to protecting the environment and taxpayer dollars while holding those responsible for the costs of cleanup.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022With this important settlement, we are recovering most of the money that EPA and the state spent to clean up this site,\\\\u0022 said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Region 2 Administrator. \\\\u0022This is an example of Superfund working just as it should. We went forward with the cleanup while still pursuing those responsible for the contamination, with today\\\\u2019s successful result.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe CFS site is located in Chester and Washington Townships in Chester, N.J. Contaminants found in the ground and surface waters include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and chlorethane.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey, is subject to a 30-day federal comment period and a statutory state comment period, as well as final court approval. The consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T16:43:50-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231278230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-007\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA multi-party settlement involving the federal government, the state of New Jersey and approximately 300 parties will ensure that clean-up efforts continue to be funded at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site Landfill (CFS) in Morris County, N.J.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Settlement Clears Way for Continued Funding of New Jersey Superfund Cleanup\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/settlement-clears-way-continued-funding-new-jersey-superfund-cleanup\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"34d95a06-3296-4a66-97c0-b9f8470cea9b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Dennis G. Sartain of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The judge found the tax loss to be more than $1million and the fraud loss to be nearly $3.7 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E      \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In November 2007, a federal grand jury returned a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/ohs\\\\/Press\\\\/11-16-07-Col.pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  superseding indictment\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E against Sartain, charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, four counts of aiding in the filing of false tax returns, one count of aiding and abetting credit and loan application fraud and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering. In February 2008, Sartain pleaded guilty to all charges. According to court documents, Sartain was the accountant for two Columbus, Ohio, businesses involved in home building and real estate brokerage services.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E      \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to the indictment, Sartain conspired with others to pay the Realtors and others who worked for these two companies \\\\u0022under the table.\\\\u0022 Court documents asserted that Sartain either prepared false Forms 1099 that underreported the amount of compensation paid to the individuals working for the companies, or he did not prepare and file any Forms 1099 with the IRS reporting any compensation paid. In addition, the superseding indictment alleged that Sartain prepared or helped prepare false individual income tax returns that underreported the income earned and taxes owed by the individuals who had received payments from these companies. Finally, the indictment claimed that Sartain and others shredded and discarded documents and business records and concealed electronic records maintained on computers and memory sticks that were relevant to the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Sartain also pleaded guilty to filing false individual income tax returns on behalf of himself and his wife. He did not report all of the income he was paid by one of these companies in the years 2001 through 2004. According to the superseding indictment, in two of those four years, Sartain listed his occupation as \\\\u0022unemployed.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Additionally, Sartain admitted aiding in the submission of a false loan application by helping submit false payroll check stubs to a mortgage company. The false payroll stubs misrepresented the loan applicant\\\\u2019s position and salary for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a mortgage.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Finally, Sartain aided and abetted money laundering by engaging in conduct that contributed to a $54,295 payment to the buyer of a home sold by a local real estate business, according to court documents. That payment represented excess fraudulently obtained loan proceeds derived from the credit and loan application fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s sentence shows that taxpayers who fail to comply with their federal tax obligations or assist others in doing so will pay a heavy price,\\\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division. \\\\u0022Mr. Sartain has been branded a convicted felon for the rest of his life, will spend ten years in prison, and still has to pay back all of the taxes plus interest and steep penalties.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Paying individuals \\\\u2018under the table\\\\u2019 in an effort to circumvent the tax laws is criminal activity,\\\\u0022 said Eileen Mayer, IRS Chief, Criminal Investigation. \\\\u0022Unfortunately, there are individuals who are relentless in their efforts to thwart our nation\\\\u0027s tax laws; however, we are equally relentless in our efforts to investigative these individuals and hold them accountable.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In addition to the charges for which he was sentenced today, Sartain faces additional charges stemming from a September 2008 indictment for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. This matter is currently scheduled for a December 2008 trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Assistant Attorney General Hochman commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Jill M. Cassara and Sean B. O\\\\u2019 Connell, who prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  More information about the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:38:26-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777106\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T17:30:31-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231281031\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-008\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Dennis G. Sartain of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. The judge found the tax loss to be more than $1million and the fraud loss to be nearly $3.7 million.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Columbus, Ohio, Accountant Sentenced to 120 Months for Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/columbus-ohio-accountant-sentenced-120-months-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"47b886cf-2bbd-4860-942f-6bacbcd0d6f9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment today charging U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent, 59, with aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. Kent was previously indicted on Aug. 28, 2008, on one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of abusive sexual contact of a clerk\\\\u2019s office employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The superseding indictment charges three counts based on alleged offenses involving an additional victim who is also a court employee. The first two additional counts charge Kent with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. The third count of the superseding indictment charges obstruction of justice related to an inquiry by a special investigative committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit into a complaint of judicial misconduct filed against Kent by the clerk\\\\u0027s office employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Chief for Litigation Peter J. Ainsworth and Trial Attorneys John P. Pearson and AnnaLou T. Tirol of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Section Chief William M. Welch II. This case is being investigated by the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:31:19-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776679\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T19:01:40-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231286500\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-009\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment today charging U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent, 59, with aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. District Court Judge Charged in Superseding Indictment with Aggravated Sexual Abuse \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nand Abusive Sexual Contact\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/us-district-court-judge-charged-superseding-indictment-aggravated-sexual-abuse-and-abusive\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c7ad51a-0de1-4ab2-b983-7a8d5dfae8ef\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 A federal court in Sacramento, Calif., issued a preliminary injunction ordering Capitol Waste Inc. and Iva and Kenneth Whitmire of Sacramento to comply with federal employment tax withholding requirements and to timely pay all present and future employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax liabilities, the Justice Department announced today. Capitol Waste, Inc. and the Whitmires agreed to the preliminary injunction order.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Justice Department filed suit on Oct. 8, 2008, seeking to enjoin the defendants from interfering with the administration of the Internal Revenue laws. The complaint alleges that the defendants have failed to comply fully with Capitol Waste\\\\u2019s employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax obligations since 2000. According to the complaint, Capitol Waste failed to pay almost $2.6 million in federal employment and unemployment taxes between 2000 and 2007.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to court documents, Capitol Waste is a commercial waste disposal business based in Sacramento County, Calif. The complaint also alleges that the Whitmires have failed to comply with their individual income tax obligations since 2000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Capitol Waste, Inc. was also ordered to file of all of its back employment, unemployment and income tax returns, and the Whitmires are required to file all of their back individual income tax returns within 90 days. The court order also prevents Capitol Waste from transferring any assets that would prevent timely payment of all present and future tax liabilities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022All employers must comply with federal employment tax laws,\\\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division. \\\\u0022Employers face not only a federal court injunction for failing to withhold and pay federal taxes, but also significant civil penalties and, in some cases, criminal prosecution. When employers fail to withhold FICA and income taxes, they are harming their employees as well as the United States, and the government will take action.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Assistant Attorney General Hochman thanked Tax Division trial attorney Adair F. Boroughs, who is handling the case for the government, for her efforts. More information about the Justice Department and its efforts to enforce the federal employment tax laws is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:22:59-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776179\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T10:29:20-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231342160\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-010\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A federal court in Sacramento, Calif., issued a preliminary injunction ordering Capitol Waste Inc. and Iva and Kenneth Whitmire of Sacramento to comply with federal employment tax withholding requirements and to timely pay all present and future employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax liabilities.  Capitol Waste, Inc. and the Whitmires agreed to the preliminary injunction order.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Court Orders Sacramento Employer to Timely Pay Withholding and Unemployment Taxes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/court-orders-sacramento-employer-timely-pay-withholding-and-unemployment-taxes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dcd89c49-29ee-4330-96a6-cb5287cfc69b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The Department of Justice announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging three Staten Island, N.Y., men with conspiring to assault African-Americans in retaliation for President-Elect Barack Obama\\\\u2019s election victory.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Ralph Nicoletti and Michael Contreras, both 18, and Brian Carranza, 21, were arrested late Tuesday and are scheduled for arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann in Brooklyn. As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, on the night of Nov. 4, 2008, shortly after learning of Barack Obama\\\\u2019s election victory, the group, along with a fourth friend, decided to find African-Americans to assault.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022It is shocking and sobering that allegations of racial violence continue in this day and age,\\\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0022The Justice Department takes these allegations very seriously and the Civil Rights Division, working with U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country, will continue to use federal laws to prosecute individuals who conspire to commit such acts of violence and intimidation.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  As cited in the indictment and other court filings, Nicoletti allegedly drove the other defendants to Park Hill, a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Staten Island, where they came upon a 17-year-old African-American who was walking home after watching the election at a friend\\\\u2019s house. One of the defendants yelled \\\\u0022Obama!\\\\u0022 as they passed the youth, and all four men then got out of the car and beat him, using a metal pipe and a collapsible police baton. The young man, who managed to escape and run home, suffered injuries to his head and legs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The group then found an African-American man in the Port Richmond section of Staten Island and assaulted him, pushing him to the ground. The defendants also accosted a Latino man, demanding to know for whom he had voted, and later yelled profanities about Obama as they drove past an Election Night gathering of African-Americans at a hair salon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The group\\\\u2019s final assault involved a man they mistakenly believed to be African-American, whom they spotted walking along Blackford Avenue in Port Richmond. Nicoletti hit him with the car, causing the victim to be thrown onto the hood of the car and into the front windshield, shattering it. Although the victim survived, he was in a coma for a period of time after the attack.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In addition to Becker, the charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph M. Demarest, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Violence and intimidation aimed at interfering with the constitutional rights of every citizen, including the right to vote, which is the bedrock of democracy, will not be tolerated,\\\\u0022 stated United States Attorney Campbell. \\\\u0022Such conduct is loathsome and despicable, and those who engage in it will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful for our partnership with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, the FBI, and the New York City Police Department, which has been vital to the success of this joint investigation and prosecution.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Demarest stated, \\\\u0022The defendants, motivated by racial animus, committed violent assaults resulting in real, and in one case near-fatal, injuries. But the Election Night assaults, coming on the day when we participate most directly in our democracy, were also an attack on the democratic process and an affront to everyone. The FBI is committed to civil rights enforcement and policing hate crimes.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  NYPD Commissioner Kelly stated, \\\\u0022I want to commend the NYPD detectives and their federal partners who pursued this case, particularly NYPD Inspector Michael J. Osgood, who as Commanding Officer of the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force had the foresight to assign a special team on Election Night until 4 a.m. the next morning. These officers were able to respond quickly to the bias attacks and begin an immediate investigation. They located an eyewitness to one of the attacks, and their subsequent distribution of flyers in the Rosebank area of Staten Island over three days led to the first major break in the case. History was made on Election Day. We wanted to make sure those who tried to retaliate did not escape justice.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The government\\\\u2019s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Pamela K. Chen and Margo K. Brodie and Special Litigation Counsel Kristy Parker.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:35:55-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776955\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T14:39:30-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231357170\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-011\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging three Staten Island, N.Y., men with conspiring to assault African-Americans in retaliation for President-Elect Barack Obama\\\\u0092s election victory.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Three Staten Island, NY Men Indicted\\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\non Federal Hate Crime Conspiracy Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/three-staten-island-ny-men-indicted-federal-hate-crime-conspiracy-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2d49d66e-ac94-4511-be1b-10351b50bff1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014Five defendants associated with the construction of the Liberty Village housing development in Lynchburg, Va., will pay a $300,000 penalty and fund more than $1 million in stream and wetlands restoration work for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and permit restrictions during construction, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe settlement with Savoy Senior Housing Corporation, Savoy Liberty Village LLC, SDB Construction, Inc., Best G.C., Inc., and Acres of Virginia, Inc., was part of a consent decree lodged today in the Western District of Virginia by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the EPA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree would resolve allegations that the defendants discharged and\\\\/or controlled and directed the discharge of pollutants including dredged and\\\\/or fill material, sediment, and other pollutants carried by stormwater into waters of the United States during the construction of a housing development without required permits, and then in violation of the stormwater permit after one was obtained.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, the defendants allegedly buried existing streams on the site and filled wetlands that formed the headwaters of one of the filled streams. Silt and sediment from the construction activities were also discharged into streams on and off the site and flowed downstream to Pine Lake and beyond.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe current owner of the property, Liberty Ridge, LLC, which is not a defendant, has agreed to implement approximately $250,000 in on-site restoration work, which will be funded by the defendants. The defendants will also pay approximately $825,000 to purchase credits to fund stream and wetland restoration projects in the region.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe alleged Clean Water Act violations at the Liberty Village site, located at 5700 Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg, Va., occurred from July 2001 through January 2003 when the defendants cleared and graded the site, installed roads and utilities, and completed or partially built several housing units. In the process, the defendants allegedly destroyed approximately 3,765 feet of stream, and wetlands at the headwaters of tributaries to the Roanoke and James Rivers. Silt and sediment were discharged into streams on and off the site and flowed downstream to Pine Lake and beyond.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese waters are important for flood control, nutrient and sediment retention, filtration, water quality improvement and maintenance of healthy aquatic ecological communities for other water bodies down stream. As the result of defendants\\\\u2019 actions, water now flows downstream faster and at a higher temperature, killing or stressing aquatic animals and plants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe site restoration plan requires restoration of one stream, restoration and enhancement of four ponds, installation of plantings, and eradication of invasive species in certain areas. The consent decree also prohibits future disturbances of the restoration project area. A copy of the decree will be filed with the Circuit Court in Virginia and each future deed, title, or other conveyance instrument must contain a notice stating that the property is subject to this consent decree.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice Web site at: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about wetlands and permitting requirements, go to: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/owow\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/owow\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E . For more information on stormwater and permitting requirements, go to \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/cfpub.epa.gov\\\\/npdes\\\\/home.cfm?program_id=6\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/cfpub.epa.gov\\\\/npdes\\\\/home.cfm?program_id=6\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T17:09:16-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231366156\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-013\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFive defendants associated with the construction of the Liberty Village housing development in Lynchburg, Va., will pay a $300,000 penalty and fund more than $1 million in stream and wetlands restoration work for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and permit restrictions during construction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Settlement Reached in Virginia Stream and Stormwater Case\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/settlement-reached-virginia-stream-and-stormwater-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7a1433d3-2c1f-4219-8cfa-09da2396ec3a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members alleging that the defendants intimidated voters and those aiding them during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Philadelphia, alleges that, during the election, Minister King Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson were deployed at the entrance to a Philadelphia polling location wearing the uniform of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and that Samir Shabazz repeatedly brandished a police-style baton weapon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Intimidation outside of a polling place is contrary to the democratic process,\\\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker. \\\\u0022The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to protect the fundamental right to vote and the Department takes allegations of voter intimidation seriously.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to the complaint, party Chairman Malik Zulu Shabazz confirmed that the placement of Samir Shabazz and Jackson in Philadelphia was part of a nationwide effort to deploy New Black Panther Party members at polling locations on Election Day. The complaint alleges a violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits intimidation, coercion or threats against \\\\u0022any person for voting or attempting to vote.\\\\u0022 The Department seeks an injunction preventing any future deployment of, or display of weapons by, New Black Panther Party members at the entrance to polling locations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, which claims active chapters nationwide, is distinct from the Black Panther Party founded by Bobby Seale in the 1960s.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Civil Rights Division enforces the Voting Rights Act of 1965. To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931. More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s web site at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/voting\\\\/index.htm\\\\u0022\\\\u003E   \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E     \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E   www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/voting\\\\/index.htm\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:25:43-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776343\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T18:10:08-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231369808\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-014\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department today filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members alleging that the defendants intimidated voters and those aiding them during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Seeks Injunction \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nAgainst New Black Panther Party\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-seeks-injunction-against-new-black-panther-party\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"959f1c45-4b92-4c47-9d1b-e74b8d5ec498\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The owner and operator of two Miami medical clinics has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Orlando Pascual Jr., 43, pleaded guilty on Jan. 7, 2009, to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud before U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro. In his plea, Pascual admitted that he co-owned two Miami clinics named Medcore Group LLC (Medcore) and M\\\\u0026amp;P Group of South Florida Inc. (M\\\\u0026amp;P) that purported to specialize in the treatment of HIV-positive patients. Pascual admitted that beginning in August 2004 and continuing through November 2006 he conspired with others to submit approximately $5.3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Pascual also pleaded guilty to two separate schemes to launder the proceeds of the health care fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  During the plea, Pascual admitted that Medcore and M\\\\u0026amp;P were operated for the purpose of defrauding Medicare, that the treatments for infused or injected drugs were not medically necessary, and that he and others paid cash kickbacks to the patients for every visit to the clinic. To obtain all the cash necessary to pay the patients, Pascual stated that he and others would write checks that appeared legitimate to people who would cash the checks and then return the cash to them for a fee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Pascual acknowledged that most patients were HIV-positive or were given false diagnoses of cancer. He stated during the plea that he and others used physicians, a physician\\\\u2019s assistant and phlebotomists to help facilitate the scheme. In addition, Pascual acknowledged that clinic employees intentionally manipulated patients\\\\u2019 blood samples so that they would appear to need treatment, when in fact they did not. Pascual stated that such tampering was done to make the medical files appear legitimate.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Pascual is currently incarcerated for Medicare fraud involving the operation of a durable medical equipment (DME) company in Miami from 2001 to 2003. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for April 3, 2009.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Seven co-defendants in the case are scheduled for trial beginning Feb. 9, 2009, in the Southern District of Florida. An indictment is merely a charge, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Kirk Ogrosky and Assistant Chief John S. \\\\u0022Jay\\\\u0022 Darden of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General and FBI. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), supervised by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney Acosta of the Southern District of Florida. Since the inception of MFSF operations, federal prosecutors have indicted 106 cases with 189 defendants in both Los Angeles and Miami. Collectively, these defendants fraudulently billed the Medicare program for more than half a billion dollars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:20:32-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776032\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T09:55:58-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231426558\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-015\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The owner and operator of two Miami medical clinics has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Medical Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Role in $5.3 Million \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nMedicare Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/medical-clinic-owner-pleads-guilty-role-53-million-medicare-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a97ea75f-681d-4b17-98f3-626db6cf6f15\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 A former executive of an Orange County, Calif.-based valve company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to numerous foreign government officials, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O\\\\u2019Brien of the Central District of California and Joseph Persichini Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Mario Covino, 44, an Italian citizen and resident of Irvine, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James V. Selna in Santa Ana, Calif., to a one-count information charging him with conspiring to make corrupt payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of securing business for the Orange County valve company from state-owned enterprises in several countries, including Brazil, China, India, Korea, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to court documents, the valve company designed and manufactured service control valves for use in the nuclear, oil and gas, and power generation industries worldwide. Covino was the director of worldwide factory sales at the valve company from March 2003 through August 2007. In this position, Covino was responsible for overseeing new construction projects and the replacement of existing valves made by other companies and installed at customer plants in more than 30 countries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In connection with his guilty plea, Covino admitted that from March 2003 through August 2007, he caused employees and agents of the valve company to make corrupt payments totaling approximately $1 million to foreign officials employed at state-owned enterprises in order to assist in obtaining and retaining business for the valve company. Covino also admitted that the valve company earned approximately $5 million in profits from the contracts it obtained as a result of these corrupt payments. According to the court documents, the corrupt payments were made to foreign officials at state-owned entities including, but not limited to, Petrobras (Brazil), Dingzhou Power (China), Datang Power (China), China Petroleum, China Resources Power, China National Offshore Oil Company, PetroChina, Maharashtra State Electricity Board (India), KHNP (Korea), Petronas (Malaysia), Dolphin Energy (UAE) and Abu Dhabi Company for Oil Operations (UAE).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Covino also admitted to providing false and misleading responses to internal auditors during a 2004 internal audit of the company\\\\u2019s commission payments, and to deleting emails and instructing others to delete emails that referred to corrupt payments, for the purpose of obstructing the internal audit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  As part of his plea agreement, Covino has agreed to cooperate with the Department in its ongoing investigation. At sentencing, scheduled for July 20, 2009, Covino faces a maximum of five years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorney Andrew Gentin of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McCormick of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California. The case was investigated by the FBI\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:24:22-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776262\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T13:18:29-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231438709\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-016\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A former executive of an Orange County, Calif.-based valve company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to numerous foreign government officials.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Executive at California Valve Company\\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nPleads Guilty to Bribing Foreign Government Officials\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-executive-california-valve-company-pleads-guilty-bribing-foreign-government-officials\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e414d497-999c-464b-bdf0-21289890f54a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014The Explorer Pipeline Company has agreed to pay a $3.3 million civil penalty in order to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from a July 14, 2007, spill of over 6,500 barrels (approximately 275,000 gallons) of jet fuel from its interstate pipeline at a location near Huntsville, Texas, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States\\\\u2019 complaint, which was filed on Oct. 2, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, alleges that Explorer discharged oil into navigable waters of the United States in violation of the Clean Water Act. On July 14, 2007, Explorer\\\\u2019s 28-inch interstate refined petroleum products pipeline ruptured near Huntsville and jet fuel spilled onto the surrounding area and into nearby Turkey Creek. Turkey Creek flows to the Trinity River at the upper reaches of Lake Livingston.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn earlier responses to the spill, Explorer replaced the section of pipe that ruptured, completed cleanup of the impacted waters and adjoining shorelines, is cooperating in a joint federal and state natural resource damage assessment, and commenced additional assessment and followup work under a Corrective Action Order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Oil spills into our nation\\\\u2019s waters endanger public health and the environment and warrant concerted enforcement efforts,\\\\u0022 said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s settlement achieves an appropriate result and furthers our enforcement mission.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022This settlement is the result of coordination and cooperation between a number of federal and state entities. EPA is committed to working with its state and federal partners to ensure a strong water protection program,\\\\u0022 said Richard E. Greene, EPA Regional Administrator.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. The penalty paid for this spill will be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution Fund Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal response activities and to compensate for damages when there is a discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances to waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe proposed consent decree, lodged in the Southern District of Texas, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice website at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T14:38:06-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231443486\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-017\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Explorer Pipeline Company has agreed to pay a $3.3 million civil penalty in order to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from a July 14, 2007, spill of over 6,500 barrels (approximately 275,000 gallons) of jet fuel from its interstate pipeline at a location near Huntsville, Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Oklahoma Pipeline Company to Pay Penalty for Jet Fuel Spill\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/oklahoma-pipeline-company-pay-penalty-jet-fuel-spill\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"235bb6e1-af73-46db-bc68-eccb2fa9e32a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2014 A retired major in the U.S. Army pleaded guilty today to charges of bribery and making a false statement arising out of his activities as both a contracting specialist and a contracting officer at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from 2005 through 2007, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting Assistant Attorney General Deborah A. Garza of the Antitrust Division announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChristopher H. Murray, 41, a resident of Cataula, Ga., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land in U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ga., to a five-count information charging him with four counts of bribery and one count of making a false statement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the information, in 2005 and 2006, Murray served as a contracting specialist in the small purchases branch of the contracting office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where he was responsible for soliciting bids for military contracts, evaluating the sufficiency of those bids, and then recommending the award of contracts to particular contractors. In this capacity, Murray admitted he received approximately $225,000 in bribes from DOD contractors in exchange for recommending the award of contracts for various goods and services.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the information, Murray admitted that when he returned to Kuwait in fall 2006 as a contracting officer, he received an additional $20,000 in bribes from a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor in exchange for the award of a construction contract. When confronted with evidence of his criminal conduct, Murray admitted he made false statements to federal agents investigating this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMurray faces up to 15 years in prison on each bribery count, as well as a criminal fine of $250,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value for each count. Murray also faces up to five years in prison on the false statement charge as well as a fine of $250,000. The maximum fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Murray abused his position of trust by awarding contracts to those willing to pay him bribes,\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich. \\\\u0022There are no more important purchases made by the federal government than those of goods and services used by our men and women in uniform.\\\\u0026nbsp; Procurement officers who sacrifice their positions of trust for the sake of personal enrichment can expect to be prosecuted.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The Antitrust Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit bribery and other offenses, which deprive the U.S. military and, ultimately, U.S. taxpayers, of a competitive market,\\\\u0022 said Deborah A. Garza, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department\\\\u0027s Antitrust Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022SIGIR vigorously continues to pursue investigations into allegations of fraud in Iraq,\\\\u0022 said Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. \\\\u0022Maj. Murray grossly abused his position of trust, committing multiple acts of fraud for which he will now pay a just price. This successful investigation was part of ongoing cooperative efforts being carried out by SIGIR and our law enforcement partners.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrig. Gen. Rodney Johnson of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said this guilty plea is just another example of how seriously his criminal investigators and the U.S. Army take these criminal acts of greed and how determined he and his special agents are to bring these people to justice. \\\\u0022People who do business with the U.S. military should know by now that if they violate the public\\\\u2019s trust and commit criminal acts, they will be caught by a team of highly-trained professionals looking for this type of criminality. We will not stand for it,\\\\u0022 said Johnson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The American public expects military officers to behave in an aboveboard manner,\\\\u0022 said James R. Ives, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service\\\\u2019s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. \\\\u0022The vast majority of officers are disciplined, law abiding professionals who serve with honor. Duty, accountability, responsibility and integrity inspire their attitudes and actions. Officers who fail to live up to these standards erode public support for the military and undermine confidence in government. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service remains committed to working with the Department of Justice to ensure officials who betray the public trust are held firmly accountable.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EToday\\\\u2019s charges represent the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to protecting U.S. taxpayers from procurement fraud through its creation of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force. The National Procurement Fraud Initiative, announced in October 2006, is designed to promote the early detection, prosecution, and prevention of procurement fraud associated with the increase in contracting activity for national security and other government programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Richard B. Evans of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Chief William M. Welch II, and Trial Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher, Emily W. Allen and Finnuala Kelleher of the Antitrust Division\\\\u2019s National Criminal Enforcement Section, which is headed by Chief Lisa Phelan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being investigated by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the FBI; and the Internal Revenue Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPlea Agreement\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T08:17:29-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738847849\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T15:53:12-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231447992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-018\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA retired major in the U.S. Army pleaded guilty today to charges of bribery and making a false statement arising out of his activities as both a contracting specialist and a contracting officer at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from 2005 through 2007.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Retired Army Major Pleads Guilty in Bribery SchemeInvolving Department of Defense Contracts in Kuwait\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/retired-army-major-pleads-guilty-bribery-schemeinvolving-department-defense-contracts-kuwait\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdd6189a-4697-4061-a61f-95bdc84ef974\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., returned a superseding indictment against Micaela Renee Dutson and her husband, Tony Dutson, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Dutsons were originally indicted May 8, 2008, on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States of more than $8 million and failed to file income taxes. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 5, 2008.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe superseding indictment adds charges that the Dutsons attempted to obstruct the IRS in its attempt to enforce the tax laws by filing lawsuits, baseless liens and multiple Forms 1099-OID against IRS employees. The indictment alleges that the baseless liens claimed a debt owed by the IRS employees to the defendants totalling $1,003,680,000,000. According to the superseding indictment, the Forms 1099-OID falsely claimed payment of millions of dollars to IRS employees who were investigating the defendants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe superseding indictment also includes charges that the Dutsons presented five fictitious financial obligations totalling approximately $9,903,870 for use by their clients in purported payment of IRS debts. It further includes a charge that the Dutsons willfully aided and assisted the filing of a false 2002 federal tax return by clients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022This indictment shows that the government will not tolerate taxpayers\\\\u2019 use of bogus financial instruments to pay tax debts and IRS forms as a means to harass IRS employees,\\\\u0022 said Tax Division Assistant Attorney General Nathan J. Hochman. \\\\u0022Under the National Tax Defier Initiative launched in April 2008, the Tax Division has committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax defiers and all others who use baseless arguments and fictitious documents to evade their tax liabilities.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Obstruction is a crime that does not pay in Oregon - we will aggressively investigate and prosecute attempts by those who obstruct revenue agents and officers from doing their jobs,\\\\u0022 said U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The IRS works quickly to identify and stop these nuisance schemes aimed at harassing honest taxpayers and the government,\\\\u0022 said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Eileen Mayer. \\\\u0022We take seriously these types of actions that attempt to impede our ability to administer efficient tax administration. Today\\\\u0027s indictment signals our determination to hold accountable those who engage in this type of frivolous activity.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EConspiracy carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Failure to file tax returns carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison for each offense. Obstructing the internal revenue laws carries a maximum penalty of up to three years for each offense. Using fictitious financial instruments carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years for each count. Aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns carries a maximum penalty of up to three years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA criminal indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt. Each of these defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges stem from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T14:43:46-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738784626\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T17:37:29-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231454249\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-019\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., returned a superseding indictment against Micaela Renee Dutson and her husband, Tony Dutson.  The Dutsons were originally indicted May 8, 2008, on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States of more than $8 million and failed to file income taxes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Former Oregon Residents Now Residing in Arizona Indicted for Obstructing IRS Investigation and Other Tax Crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/two-former-oregon-residents-now-residing-arizona-indicted-obstructing-irs-investigation-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62ddff79-20b0-4d6f-8229-d9124ec90f78\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The Department of Justice has filed a forfeiture action against accounts worth nearly $3 million that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members in connection with various public work projects, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The forfeiture action was filed Jan. 8, 2009, in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia against funds located in Singapore held by multiple account holders. The forfeiture complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Arafat \\\\u0022Koko\\\\u0022 Rahman, the son of the former prime minister of Bangladesh, in connection with public works projects awarded by the government of Bangladesh to Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company.\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the forfeiture complaint, the majority of funds in Koko\\\\u2019s account are traceable to bribes allegedly received in connection with the China Harbor project, which was a project to build a new mooring containment terminal at the port in Chittagong, Bangladesh.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022This action shows the lengths to which U.S. law enforcement will go to recover the proceeds of foreign corruption, including acts of bribery and money laundering,\\\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich. \\\\u0022Not only will the Department, for example, prosecute companies and executives who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we will also use our forfeiture laws to recapture the illicit facilitating payments often used in such schemes.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Siemens AG), a German corporation, and three of its subsidiaries pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2008, to violations of and charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Specifically, Siemens Bangladesh admitted that from May 2001 to August 2006, it caused corrupt payments of at least $5,319,839 to be made through purported business consultants to various Bangladeshi officials in exchange for favorable treatment during the bidding process on a mobile telephone project.\\\\u0026nbsp; At least one payment to each of these purported consultants was paid from a U.S. bank account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to the forfeiture complaint, the bribe payments from Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company were made in U.S. dollars, and the illicit funds flowed through financial institutions in the United States before they were deposited in accounts in Singapore, thereby subjecting them to U.S. jurisdiction. Money laundering laws in the United States cover financial transactions that flow through the United States involving proceeds of foreign offenses, including foreign bribery and extortion.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In August 2006, the President announced a National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts Against Kleptocracy to fight high-level corruption around the world. This strategy combines the policy and law enforcement tools of several federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury, State and Homeland Security.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Linda Samuel and Trial Attorney Frederick Reynolds of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs. The case was investigated by the FBI\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office in cooperation with Bangladeshi law enforcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:19:52-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738775992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-09T14:12:40-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231528360\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231502400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-020\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department has filed a forfeiture action against accounts worth nearly $3 million that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members in connection with various public work projects.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Department of Justice Seeks to Recover Approximately $3 Million \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nin Illegal Proceeds from Foreign Bribe Payments\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/department-justice-seeks-recover-approximately-3-million-illegal-proceeds-foreign-bribe\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99c74405-a551-4b82-a2f5-4e68acc17d7a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E      \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E      \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Roy M. Belfast Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga today to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta for the Southern District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E        \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Belfast, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Chuckie Taylor, Charles Taylor Jr., Charles Taylor II and Charles McArther Emmanuel, was convicted on October 30, 2008, by a federal jury after a six-week trial of five counts of torture, one count of conspiracy to torture, one count of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of conspiracy to use a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The lengthy prison term handed down today justly reflects the horror and torture that Taylor Jr. visited upon his victims. This case was made in no small part by the courage of individual victims who had the mettle to come forward and speak the truth about what had been done to them,\\\\u0022 Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division said. \\\\u0022Our message to human rights violators, no matter where they are, remains the same: We will use the full reach of U.S. law, and every lawful resource at the disposal of our investigators and prosecutors, to hold you fully accountable for your crimes.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to trial testimony, Belfast, who was born in the United States and is the son of the former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, commanded a paramilitary organization known as the Anti-Terrorist Unit, which was directed to provide protection for the Liberian president and additional dignitaries of the Liberian government. Between 1999 and 2003, in his role as commander of that unit, Belfast and his associates committed numerous and varied forms of torture, including burning victims with molten plastic, lit cigarettes, scalding water, candle wax and an iron; severely beating victims with firearms; cutting and stabbing victims; and shocking victims with an electric device.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022There is justice today for the many victims of Chuckie Taylor\\\\u0022, said John P. Torres, Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. \\\\u0022This sentence ensures that he pays for his barbaric acts. I want to thank the more than one hundred ICE agents, attorneys, victim advocates and other federal partners whose meticulous investigative work and coordination led to this landmark conviction.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022This sentence sends a resounding message that torture will not be tolerated here at home or by U.S. nationals abroad,\\\\u0022 said Executive Assistant Director Arthur M. Cummings, II, of the FBI National Security Division. \\\\u0022The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate such acts wherever they occur.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  On March 30, 2006, Belfast attempted to enter the United States with a passport obtained through false statements submitted on his passport application, and was arrested. Belfast pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2006, to passport fraud and was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2007, to 11 months in prison on that charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Belfast\\\\u2019s prosecution on the torture charges was the first ever under a statute that criminalizes torture and provides U.S. courts jurisdiction to hear cases involving acts of torture committed outside the United States if the offender is a U.S. national or is present in the United States, regardless of nationality.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The case was jointly investigated by ICE and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Rochlin and Caroline Heck Miller of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Chris Graveline of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Domestic Security Section. National Security Division Trial Attorney Brenda Sue Thornton and Criminal Division Attorneys John Cox, John-Alex Romano, Michael Surgalla, and Pragna Soni also provided assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:47:08-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777628\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-09T15:00:44-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231531244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231502400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-021\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Roy M. Belfast Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga today to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Roy Belfast Jr., A\\\\/K\\\\/A Chuckie Taylor, Sentenced on Torture Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/roy-belfast-jr-aka-chuckie-taylor-sentenced-torture-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bb49095b-e376\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nindustry. Principal uses include ore processing, fertilizer manufacturing, oil refining, wastewater processing and chemical synthesis.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEPA is focusing on improving compliance among industries that have the potential to cause significant amounts of air pollution, including the cement manufacturing, glass manufacturing and acid production industries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe states of Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma, and the Northern Arapaho Tribe, joined the federal government in the agreement. Of the total penalty, $460,000 will be paid to the federal government and $240,000 will be paid to the three states. In Ohio, part of the money will be used to fund a clean diesel school bus project and a tree planting project.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree, lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information on the settlement: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T12:19:31-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231780771\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-025\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThree manufacturers of sulfuric acid have agreed to spend at least $12 million on air pollution controls that are expected to eliminate more than 3,000 tons of harmful emissions annually from six production plants in Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Chemtrade Logistics, Chemtrade Refinery Services and Marsulex also will pay a civil penalty of $700,000 under the Clean Air Act settlement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sulfuric Acid Manufacturers Agree to Reduce Air Pollution at Facilities\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/sulfuric-acid-manufacturers-agree-reduce-air-pollution-facilities\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9c7036e9-7349-41a6-b328-2c2aa5f58ca3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Gary, Ind., alleging job discrimination against six individuals on the basis of their race, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Department\\\\u2019s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, alleges that the six individuals applied for emergency medical technician (EMT) positions with the city and were subsequently placed on a hiring list that stated that offers of employment would be based on the rank order of the individuals listed. The complaint further alleges that the city failed to offer EMT positions to any of the six individuals, all of whom are white, while offering EMT positions to several other individuals, all of whom are African-American, and that each of these six complainants ranked higher than the lowest-ranked applicant to receive a job offer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Federal law guarantees equal access to employment opportunities without regard to race,\\\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u0022The Department is committed to enforcing all the federal civil rights laws, including Title VII, under its jurisdiction.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Title VII prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion, and prohibits retaliation against an employee who opposes an unlawful employment practice, or because the employee has made a charge or participated in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under the act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The continued enforcement of Title VII has been a priority of the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. More information is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/emp\\\\/index.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/emp\\\\/index.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:34:38-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776878\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T15:57:35-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231793855\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-026\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Gary, Ind., alleging job discrimination against six individuals on the basis of their race, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended).\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Race Discrimination Against Job Applicants by City of Gary, Ind.\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-files-lawsuit-alleging-race-discrimination-against-job-applicants-city\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d5af91e3-509c-43c9-b945-40cd7eb42007\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit on behalf of James O. Alston, a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, against Hawthorne Paint Co. Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of the employee\\\\u2019s past, current or future military obligations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Department\\\\u2019s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., alleges that the company violated USERRA by terminating Mr. Alston from his position as a supervisor based on his military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2004 to June 2006, and by discharging him without cause, a week from his date of reinstatement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022No one should lose their civilian job for serving our country as a member of the military,\\\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. \\\\u0022Our servicemen and women sacrifice for our nation, and particularly in this time of conflict, the Justice Department is committed to fully protecting the employment rights of our men and women in uniform.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Department of Justice\\\\u2019s lawsuit was filed after the Veterans\\\\u2019 Employment and Training Service of the Department of Labor referred a complaint filed by Mr. Alston under USERRA to the Department of Justice upon completion of its investigation and unsuccessful settlement efforts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division places a high priority on the enforcement of service members\\\\u2019 rights under USERRA. Last year, the Division filed 12 USERRA suits, the largest number since receiving enforcement authority in September 2004.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Additional information about USERRA is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_self\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  www.servicemembers.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and on the Department of Labor Web site at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.dol.gov\\\\/vets\\\\/programs\\\\/userra\\\\/main.htm\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E  www.dol.gov\\\\/vets\\\\/programs\\\\/userra\\\\/main.htm\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:33:26-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776806\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T16:34:34-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231796074\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-027\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department today filed a lawsuit on behalf of James O. Alston, a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, against Hawthorne Paint Co. Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of the employee\\\\u0092s past, current or future military obligations.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Files Suit Against Paint Company to Defend Employment Rights of N.J. Army National Guardsman\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-files-suit-against-paint-company-defend-employment-rights-nj-army-national\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d5b17cd7-95fd-4a78-9f03-51d01ef815de\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON- Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Department of Justice announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  In addition to the $5 million penalty, Rite Aid and all of its subsidiaries agreed to a compliance plan with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure compliance with all requirements of the CSA and applicable DEA regulations and to prevent diversion of controlled substances. The compliance plan also requires Rite Aid to implement a pseudoephedrine and ephedrine tracking system in each of its 4,915 stores that is designed to prevent the abuse of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products, which are used to make methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to information contained in the agreement, the DEA conducted an investigation of 53 separate Rite Aid locations starting in 2004. The investigation revealed a pattern of violations of the CSA, including:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt pharmacies in Kentucky and New York, Rite Aid knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose pursuant to a valid physician-patient relationship;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt five pharmacies in Maryland, four pharmacies in New York and 13 pharmacies in California, Rite Aid failed to notify the DEA in a timely manner of significant thefts and losses of controlled substances, thus permitting the diversion of controlled substances to continue and undermining DEA\\\\u2019s ability to investigate such thefts and\\\\/or losses;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt pharmacies in California, Pennsylvania and Maryland, Rite Aid either failed to maintain or failed to furnish to the DEA upon request records that are required to be kept under the CSA for a period of two years; \\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt all 53 pharmacies in all eight states, Rite Aid failed to properly execute DEA forms used to ensure that the amount of Schedule II drugs ordered by Rite Aid were actually received.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E  \\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Additionally, the DEA conducted accountability audits of controlled substances at 25 of the 53 stores investigated to determine whether Rite Aid could properly account for Schedule II and III controlled substances purchased and dispensed. The results of the accountability audits revealed significant shortages or surpluses of the most highly abused drugs, including oxycodone and hydrocodone products, reflecting a pattern of non-compliance with the requirements of the CSA and federal regulations that lead to the diversion of controlled substances in and around the communities of the Rite Aid pharmacies investigated.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Congress regulates prescription medications because of their powerful and potentially harmful effects,\\\\u0022 said Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip. \\\\u0022Today\\\\u0027s settlement will help to curb illegal access to these dangerous drugs that can often be abused.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022This settlement demonstrates the important responsibilities all pharmacies have to prevent dangerous drugs from being diverted from their intended use,\\\\u0022 said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. \\\\u0022The civil penalties paid today are just one example of DEA\\\\u0027s determination to combat the troubling prescription drug abuse problem in this country by pursuing pharmacies that fail to comply with the law. Our nation\\\\u0027s pharmacies must play a major role in the fight against drug abuse, so that together we can protect public health and keep our communities safe.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  As part of the compliance plan agreed to as part of the settlement, Rite Aid has agreed to audit each pharmacy to ensure that all of its controlled substances are maintained securely and that each pharmacy is compliant with the requirements of the CSA. Additionally, Rite Aid will physically count all Schedule II controlled substances quarterly and physically count hydrocodone and alprazolam products yearly. Currently, the CSA only requires registrants like Rite Aid to physically count Schedule II controlled substances biennially and estimate Schedule III products biennially.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Rite Aid has also agreed to design and implement an electronic system to document and link all sales transactions involving non-prescription products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine at each of the 4,915 Rite Aid locations in the country. The new system will be designed to prevent individuals from obtaining illegal amounts of these products by visiting different pharmacy locations. In the event an individual attempts to make a purchase that would exceed either the daily or 30-day limit for purchase of non-prescription products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, the new system will alert the employee to halt the transaction and a record of the attempted purchase will be made and reported to the DEA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The CSA is the primary federal law regulating the flow of controlled substances into the marketplace for medical purposes.\\\\u0026nbsp; Strict compliance with the CSA is required in order to prevent the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession and improper use of controlled substances. The Act authorizes the imposition of a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each record keeping or reporting violation and a penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation involving legally deficient prescriptions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  The settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by Rite Aid nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Rite Aid is headquartered in Camp Hill, Pa., and operates 4,915 stores in 31 states. Violations resolved by the settlement occurred in eight states and 11 judicial districts, including the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York; District of Maryland; Eastern District of Kentucky; Eastern and Central Districts of California; Eastern District of Virginia; District of New Jersey; and the Eastern District of Michigan. The settlement was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from each of the 11 judicial districts in which violations occurred. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. The investigation in this matter was conducted by the DEA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:48:16-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777696\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9662639e-b9a0-44da-8b87-c3f1562b616b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Public Affairs\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T17:36:54-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231799814\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-028\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Rite Aid Corporation and Subsidiaries Agree to Pay $5 Million in Civil Penalties to Resolve Violations in Eight States of the Controlled Substances Act\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/rite-aid-corporation-and-subsidiaries-agree-pay-5-million-civil-penalties-resolve-violations\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"13e6406f-e16c-457f-b277-6cd098ddb66f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s report describes troubling conduct by a former supervisor in the Civil Rights Division prior to his departure from the Division nearly three years ago. The mission of the Justice Department is the evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, and that mission has to start with the evenhanded application of the laws within our own Department. As today\\\\u2019s report makes clear, Mr. Schlozman deviated from that strict standard.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The Department agrees with the recommendations outlined in the report and has already taken steps to implement them. In addition, the Civil Rights Division has taken additional steps to update its own hiring policies and to increase the role of career employees in its hiring process. As a result of these reforms, and the procedures already in place for evaluating the work and conduct of lawyers throughout the Department, we are confident that the institutional problems identified in today\\\\u2019s report no longer exist and will not recur.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:27:32-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776452\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9662639e-b9a0-44da-8b87-c3f1562b616b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Public Affairs\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-13T10:07:42-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231859262\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231848000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-029\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u0022Today\\\\u0092s report describes troubling conduct by a former supervisor in the Civil Rights Division prior to his departure from the Division nearly three years ago. The mission of the Justice Department is the evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, and that mission has to start with the evenhanded application of the laws within our own Department. As today\\\\u0092s report makes clear, Mr. Schlozman deviated from that strict standard.\\\\u0022\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Statement by Peter A. Carr, Acting Director of Public Affairs, Regarding Report on Civil Rights Division Hiring\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/statement-peter-carr-acting-director-public-affairs-regarding-report-civil-rights-division\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"eb0eb20b-e09f-4395-b85c-b7fa97d0f1a5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  WASHINGTON - Peter Zavell, a medical doctor in Florence, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return for the year 2000, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service(IRS) announced today. Zavell was scheduled to begin trial in Florence before Judge R. Bryan Harwell today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Zavell was indicted in August 2007 for conspiracy to impede the IRS and for filing false returns for years 2000 and 2001. According to the indictment, Zavell used the \\\\u0022Look Back\\\\u0022 and \\\\u0022Look Forward\\\\u0022 programs, marketed by Anderson Ark and Associates (AAA) to create fictitious entities and business transactions intended to eliminate his tax obligations. The tax loss relative to the scheme was $244,784.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  According to the indictment, Zavell used the AAA Look Back program to set up a sham partnership for the purpose of reporting false expenses and eliminating his individual tax liabilities. The indictment alleges that, through the AAA Look Forward program, Dr. Zavell created a sham partnership with which his medical practiced allegedly engaged in fictitious business contracts. The purpose and result of this fictitious business relationship was to generate false business expenses for his medical practice and substantially reduce the business tax obligations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022Dr. Zavell joins more than a dozen other AAA customers who now wear the lifelong title \\\\u2018convicted felon\\\\u2019 for their participation in illegal tax fraud scams,\\\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division. \\\\u0022This is just one more example of the government\\\\u2019s commitment to investigate and prosecute those who fail to comply with their federal tax obligations.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  \\\\u0022The IRS aggressively investigates those who use abusive financial arrangements to hide the true ownership of assets and income; it is a matter of maintaining public confidence in the fairness of the tax laws,\\\\u0022 said Eileen Mayer, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. \\\\u0022If individuals choose to participate in abusive tax schemes, they will be held accountable and criminally prosecuted.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss charges against Zavell\\\\u2019s wife, Susan Zavell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Judge Harwell did not set a sentencing date. Zavell faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E    \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E  Assistant Attorney General Hochman commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Kevin C. Lombardi and Gregory R. Bockin, who prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:40:37-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777237\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-13T16:33:54-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231882434\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231848000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-030\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Peter Zavell, a medical doctor in Florence, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return for the year 2000.  Zavell was scheduled to begin trial in Florence before Judge R. Bryan Harwell today.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"South Carolina Doctor Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/south-carolina-doctor-pleads-guilty-filing-false-tax-return\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"16abbe22-b232-4311-9f27-1adfde5ec725\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2014 KIK (Virginia) LLC pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Virginia to a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act and agreed to pay a $75,000 criminal fine and $25,000 in community service payments for negligent discharges of bleach to the sanitary sewer system in Salem, Va.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKIK (Virginia) operated a facility in Salem that manufactured bleach and other household products. On Sept. 4, 2003, local authorities discovered elevated concentrations of bleach in the sanitary sewer lines servicing the KIK (Virginia) facility. An investigation revealed that at that time and for a number of years before, under previous owners, employees at the plant washed bleach that had been spilled in the production and bottling process and off-specification bleach into the plant\\\\u2019s floor drains. The floor drains channeled the bleach into the plant\\\\u2019s drainage system, which lead to Salem\\\\u2019s sanitary sewer system, operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority. The plant did not have a permit to discharge bleach to the sewer system and did not monitor its discharges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Clean Water Act prohibits discharges into a sewer system of any pollutants that the discharger knows could cause property damage. Bleach is a corrosive chemical that, in sufficient concentration, may damage metal and other materials used in the sewer system and is considered a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Keeping our sewer systems and public treatment works in good condition is a key part of maintaining and improving the quality of our waterways,\\\\u0022 said Eileen Sobek, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022We take seriously our obligation to prosecute those whose conduct risks harm to these important systems.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe $25,000 in community service payments will be divided equally between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Environmental Education Fund for use in projects to improve water quality in the Salem area. In addition to the criminal fine and community service payment, KIK (Virginia) has agreed to serve one year of probation, during which it will continue to develop and implement an environmental management system that it began developing during the investigation. It also will complete an environmental audit conducted by an independent auditor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Dumping bleach into the city\\\\u0027s sewer system risked causing damage to both its sewage treatment equipment and the environment,\\\\u0022 said David Dillion, EPA\\\\u0027s Special Agent in Charge in Philadelphia. \\\\u0022It is appropriate that, in addition to the fine, the company will be required\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 2.523772223
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01SKJmxFX32Nqv8SeRFcXJNT

Input

{ "brief": "Office of Public Affairs press releases list", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr" }

Tool Progress E0021

(no result)

Tool Result E0022

{ "content": "", "content_length": 0, "content_type": "text/html", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": " ", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr" }

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01SKJmxFX32Nqv8SeRFcXJNT, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.256

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "web_fetch",
  "tool_input": {
    "brief": "Office of Public Affairs press releases list",
    "max_age_seconds": 3600,
    "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01SKJmxFX32Nqv8SeRFcXJNT",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": "web_fetch"
}

tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.257

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "web_fetch",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01SKJmxFX32Nqv8SeRFcXJNT",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "Office of Public Affairs press releases list",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169583906
  }
}

tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.258

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "web_fetch",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01SKJmxFX32Nqv8SeRFcXJNT",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": {
    "content": "",
    "content_length": 0,
    "content_type": "text/html",
    "description": "",
    "status_code": 200,
    "success": true,
    "title": "&nbsp;",
    "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr"
  },
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.12938939
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_014vbxvHkmuQ7YXaKBBs5Dku

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 -c \"\nimport json\nd=json.load(open('feb40d035fc0dd4f6084ff4980ceb18726201c8e43d5972f08813dcd557d6faa.txt'))\ninner=json.loads(d['content'])\nrs=inner['results']\nprint(len(rs))\nprint(list(rs[0].keys()))\nimport datetime\nfor r in rs[:5]:\n print(r.get('date'), r.get('created'), r.get('title')[:60])\n\"" }

Tool Progress E0024

(no result)

Tool Result E0025

50 ['attachment', 'body', 'changed', 'component', 'created', 'date', 'image', 'number', 'teaser', 'title', 'topic', 'url', 'uuid'] 1231156800 <time datetime="2009-01-05 11:20 AM PST (UTC-08:00)">1231183207</time> Statement of Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on the Deat 1231156800 <time datetime="2009-01-05 1:50 PM PST (UTC-08:00)">1231192250</time> Former South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty t 1231243200 <time datetime="2009-01-06 9:25 AM PST (UTC-08:00)">1231262711</time> Chicago Advertising Firm Pays United States $15.5 Million to 1231243200 <time datetime="2009-01-06 11:54 AM PST (UTC-08:00)">1231271665</time> Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty in $132 Million 1231243200 <time datetime="2009-01-06 12:02 PM PST (UTC-08:00)">1231272123</time> Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay Fine for OSHA Vi

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_014vbxvHkmuQ7YXaKBBs5Dku, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.259

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 -c \"\nimport json\nd=json.load(open('feb40d035fc0dd4f6084ff4980ceb18726201c8e43d5972f08813dcd557d6faa.txt'))\ninner=json.loads(d['content'])\nrs=inner['results']\nprint(len(rs))\nprint(list(rs[0].keys()))\nimport datetime\nfor r in rs[:5]:\n    print(r.get('date'), r.get('created'), r.get('title')[:60])\n\""
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_014vbxvHkmuQ7YXaKBBs5Dku",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": "shell"
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.260

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_014vbxvHkmuQ7YXaKBBs5Dku",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 -c \"\nimport json\nd=...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169591934
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.261

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_014vbxvHkmuQ7YXaKBBs5Dku",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "50\n['attachment', 'body', 'changed', 'component', 'created', 'date', 'image', 'number', 'teaser', 'title', 'topic', 'url', 'uuid']\n1231156800 <time datetime=\"2009-01-05 11:20 AM PST (UTC-08:00)\">1231183207</time>\n Statement of Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on the Deat\n1231156800 <time datetime=\"2009-01-05 1:50 PM PST (UTC-08:00)\">1231192250</time>\n Former South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty t\n1231243200 <time datetime=\"2009-01-06 9:25 AM PST (UTC-08:00)\">1231262711</time>\n Chicago Advertising Firm Pays United States $15.5 Million to\n1231243200 <time datetime=\"2009-01-06 11:54 AM PST (UTC-08:00)\">1231271665</time>\n Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty in $132 Million\n1231243200 <time datetime=\"2009-01-06 12:02 PM PST (UTC-08:00)\">1231272123</time>\n Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay Fine for OSHA Vi\n",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.116635305
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4

Input

{ "brief": "Most recent DOJ press releases, sorted newest first", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0027

(no result)

Tool Result E0028

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272226\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":0},\"executionTime\":1.4591929912567139},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESpokane, Washington \\u2013 First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EA team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:18:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789150728\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"68248c1d-1d3d-4ed1-90c4-bea03bd5a1ca\",\"name\":\"USAO - Washington, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:16:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789150588\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2:26-CR-0115-RLP\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edwa\\/pr\\/aaron-farinacci-federally-indicted-arson\",\"uuid\":\"8abf429c-6955-4818-b3d9-fdcc3707eaa1\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461061\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"8ede7131-db62-45b3-8e65-e63dbb96aba9\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 St. Michael\\u2019s Eye \\u0026amp; Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael\\u2019s Eye \\u0026amp; Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States alleges that from September 2015 through December 2020, St. Michael\\u2019s Eye \\u0026amp; Laser Institute (St. Michael\\u2019s) and Dr. Michaelos caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, St. Michael\\u2019s and Dr. Michaelos admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. St. Michael\\u2019s had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid St. Michael\\u2019s for referrals that St. Michael\\u2019s made for TCD tests, even though the parties\\u2019 contracts called for payment based on the cost of office space, staff, and utilities, and not per-patient or per-test that St. Michael\\u2019s referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of these tests, Eyecuity submitted claims to Medicare that indicated that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Syndrome or Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI), a very rare condition. But St. Michael\\u2019s physicians did not have reason to believe that patients had a diagnosis of VBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States contends that the claims for the TCD tests that St. Michael\\u2019s and Dr. Michaelos caused Eyecuity to submit to Medicare for payment were false because St. Michael\\u2019s received payments from Eyecuity that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Weinograd of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u2019s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1461061\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-ma\\/media\\/1461061\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=390485\\u0022 title=\\u0022michaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Emichaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:35:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155353\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:33:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155181\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 St. Michael\\u2019s Eye \\u0026amp; Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael\\u2019s Eye \\u0026amp; Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"87816596-1bad-44b8-b138-df98755a6895\",\"name\":\"False Claims Act\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims\",\"uuid\":\"116c508a-1cad-440f-a7b2-5bdb81ced9e0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said, \\u201cThis violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he\\u2019ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws,\\u0022 said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. \\u0022ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:17:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789132651\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:14:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789132490\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/criminal-illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-federal-prison-after-threatening-woman-knife\",\"uuid\":\"328c9c39-4e0c-4765-bd2f-02e0267229ee\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461056\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"6b094cb4-03d0-4856-a186-f788390b9c7a\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS, who is currently detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was\\u0026nbsp;presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Southern District of New York\\u0026nbsp;will use every available tool to protect children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cDustin Tompkins represents every parent\\u2019s greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. \\u0026nbsp;As alleged,\\u0026nbsp;while\\u0026nbsp;on\\u0026nbsp;supervision\\u0026nbsp;for\\u0026nbsp;a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography,\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins used social media to\\u0026nbsp;communicate\\u0026nbsp;with minors and\\u0026nbsp;persuade\\u0026nbsp;them to create and send him sexually explicit images. \\u0026nbsp;Tompkins is\\u0026nbsp;also\\u0026nbsp;alleged to have\\u0026nbsp;amassed\\u0026nbsp;additional child pornography\\u0026nbsp;via\\u0026nbsp;social media applications. \\u0026nbsp;If you have information to report,\\u0026nbsp;please immediately contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI\\u0026nbsp;(1-800-225-5324) or\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/tips.fbi.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/tips.fbi.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn or about March 18, 2015, TOMPKINS pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography, in violation of\\u0026nbsp;Title 18, United States Code, Section\\u0026nbsp;2252A(a)(2) and (b)(1), and was subsequently sentenced to 77\\u0026nbsp;months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn or about January 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in TOMPKINS\\u2019s bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone.\\u0026nbsp; A subsequent court-authorized search of that smartphone found images comprising child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on or about January 24, 2026, TOMPKINS had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFinally, the smartphone search found that TOMPKINS, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors.\\u0026nbsp; Specifically, on or about October 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and transmit the photograph to him.\\u0026nbsp; Then, on or about December 26, 2025, Tompkins directed, and attempted to direct, a 16\\u2011year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and transmit the photograph and video to him.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere may be other victims.\\u0026nbsp; If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1\\u2011800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https:\\/\\/tips.fbi.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETOMPKINS, 38, of Mount Kisco, New York, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is finally charged with one count of committing the offenses charged in Counts One and Two while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to Counts One and Two.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald thanked\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Probation Office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3c32050731c80e95c532b465681ffe52\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153188\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:56:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789152961\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-257\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/registered-sex-offender-charged-sexual-exploitations-children-and-receipt-and\",\"uuid\":\"b914b4dc-2237-47e8-a1b0-f0f7754d9916\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\u2013 A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.\\u0026nbsp;Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an \\u201cAR\\u201d style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America,\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:15:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789146922\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:12:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789146733\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, of Sedalia, Mo., was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/man-involved-shooting-sentenced-96-months-imprisonment-illegally-possessing-stolen\",\"uuid\":\"114e328e-22ea-472c-a6f6-fee6c0ba6599\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala.\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A Dothan, Alabama tax preparer was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Thomas Govan for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant was entrusted with helping taxpayers comply with the law, yet she repeatedly chose to manipulate the tax system for her own benefit,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cWhat makes this case particularly troubling is that the defendant did not change her ways after being indicted. While on federal pretrial release and under an explicit order not to commit additional crimes, she continued preparing false tax returns. Her decision to disregard both the law and the conditions of her release resulted in additional criminal charges and a significant federal prison sentence.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs a tax preparer, Carlotta Lampley had a responsibility to prepare and submit accurate tax returns for herself and her clients,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. \\u201cShe failed to fulfill that responsibility in order to obtain fraudulent refunds. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will investigate unscrupulous tax preparers, and they will be held accountable for their actions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Carlotta Elaine Lampley, 41, operated a tax preparation service in Dothan and began preparing tax returns for clients in 2015. As part of her business practice, Lampley commonly withheld her tax-preparation fees from clients\\u2019 tax refunds before transferring the remaining refund proceeds to the clients.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn investigation revealed that Lampley prepared and filed false tax returns for herself and various clients during tax years 2020 through 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn her plea agreement, Lampley admitted that, in 2024, she prepared and filed a federal income tax return for herself for the 2023 tax year that falsely reported her income as $52,343. Lampley knew the reported income was false because it failed to include fees she earned from preparing clients\\u2019 tax returns and withheld from their refunds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury subsequently indicted Lampley, and she was arrested on September 24, 2025. As a condition of her pretrial release, Lampley was prohibited from committing any new violations of law while awaiting trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDespite being under federal indictment and released on bond, Lampley continued to prepare false tax returns. On January 22, 2026, she prepared a tax return for a client that falsely claimed the client operated a business and had earned a profit from that business, even though the client did not operate such a business and had never told Lampley that the client did. Lampley also falsely reported \\u201cother earned income\\u201d for the client despite knowing that the client had not received such income.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELampley admitted that she knew the false statements were material and were intended to affect the client\\u2019s federal tax liability in a manner that benefited the client at the expense of the Internal Revenue Service and the American taxpayer. The conduct also violated the terms of her pretrial release and resulted in a superseding indictment charging Lampley with additional criminal conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELampley\\u2019s 57-month prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the September 10, 2026, sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Lampley to pay restitution in the amount of $314,247. This consists of $62,915 associated with her own tax returns and $251,332 associated with tax returns she aided and assisted other taxpayers in filing. The estimated actual loss amount from Lampley\\u2019s false tax-return scheme over the full period of her criminal conduct exceeded $2.1 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:20:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789154414\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:18:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789154289\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Dothan Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/dothan-tax-preparer-sentenced-nearly-five-years-prison-filing-false-tax-returns\",\"uuid\":\"28b473a5-3b78-4e40-86f3-1e820344f80e\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461011\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"77d701bf-f401-47a4-8ec1-c5459b978318\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\u201cUSPIS\\u201d),\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\u201cOraclum\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\u201d or the \\u201cFund\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWe will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors\\u2019 money at risk,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cAs alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cVuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThese allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhen individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes\\u2014they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,\\u201d said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cWhile investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund.\\u0026nbsp; The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions \\u201cusing wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp; Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund\\u2019s returns to investors. VUKOVIC\\u2019s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of\\u0026nbsp;securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald\\u0026nbsp;praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS.\\u0026nbsp;Mr. McDonald\\u0026nbsp;further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e1c1f22f9ad843fe4236b2d44aa85a413\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T08:36:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789130176\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T08:34:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789130047\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-255\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\u201cUSPIS\\u201d),\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\u201cOraclum\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\u201d or the \\u201cFund\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\",\"uuid\":\"4b912645-2e6f-4fe5-861b-6c0d1d50b996\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\u201cJoonko\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\u201cInvestor-1\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789143928\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789143792\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-256\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\u201cJoonko\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\u2019s revenue.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMONROE \\u2013 On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERandy Allen Powell,\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cAs alleged, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u2019s\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,\\u201d said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\u201cProtecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\u0026nbsp;at \\u0026nbsp;https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\/about-project-safe-childhood\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\/\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECONTACT:\\u003Cbr\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla\\u003Cbr\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\u003Cbr\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\u003Cbr\\u003ECara Alexander: (337) 262-6704\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:38:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789148282\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"5fca62bc-f789-4d4a-9f67-764e0c0610a1\",\"name\":\"Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:25:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789147513\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla\\/pr\\/downsville-man-previously-convicted-receiving-child-pornography-indicted-again\",\"uuid\":\"4c8354d5-cf73-4277-8d5a-359e307bfe12\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man who escaped custody and failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on September 10, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuane Levering, age 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from custody and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp; In 2005 Levering was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for Nebraska.\\u0026nbsp; Based on this conviction, Levering is required to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the plea hearing, evidence showed that on December 23, 2025, Levering began confinement following his conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp; On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service received a Notice of Escaped Federal Prisoner for Levering from the Bureau of Prisons stating Levering failed to return to Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center from his reported employment site.\\u0026nbsp; Levering admitted he willingly left the center and failed to register his new residence with the sex offender registry while he was on the run.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\u0026nbsp; Levering remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\u0026nbsp; Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151282\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151212\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/sioux-city-man-who-failed-register-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-federal-court\",\"uuid\":\"35f34b92-2117-42e2-9e1b-ad958e6a13d7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\u2013 A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years\\u2019 supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELess than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff\\u2019s Office located Reed\\u2019s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EReed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:20:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789147217\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:19:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789147151\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/springfield-man-sentenced-over-20-years-meth-and-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"914778fc-9471-431f-9ea4-e70181684211\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECINCINNATI \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. \\u201cWe continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.\\u201d \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnalysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAgents executed a search warrant at Champion\\u2019s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChampion\\u2019s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the \\u201creaper,\\u201d explained how good he is at shooting\\/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how \\u201chittin a mother***er\\u201d would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChampion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms \\u0026amp; Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie\\u0026nbsp;announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson\\u2019s Office are representing the United States in this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:13:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789154032\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:12:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153961\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECINCINNATI \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdoh\\/pr\\/gang-task-force-arrests-cincinnati-man-allegedly-tied-multiple-shootings\",\"uuid\":\"a958bae7-b9b5-48b0-bc86-f0941e8923ec\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETOLEDO, Ohio \\u2013 A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETeunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary\\u2019s River that flows to the Maumee River.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy\\u003Cem\\u003E,\\u003C\\/em\\u003E when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy\\u2019s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia\\u2014a pollutant\\u2014that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cReckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio\\u2019s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDavid M. Toepfer\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio. \\u201cLet this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA\\u2019s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. \\u201cClean water is one of Ohio\\u2019s and America\\u2019s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cOhio\\u2019s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio\\u2019s waterways will be held accountable,\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.epa.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov\\/law-enforcement\\/bureau-of-criminal-investigation\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOhio Attorney General\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal\\u0026nbsp;Investigation\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, and the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/epa.ohio.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOhio Environmental Protection\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Special Investigations Unit, with support from the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ohiodnr.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOhio Department of Natural\\u0026nbsp;Resources\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMatthew D. Simko\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at\\u0026nbsp;800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.\\u0026nbsp;Potential environmental violations can be reported at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/echo.epa.gov\\/report-environmental-violations\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/echo.epa.gov\\/report-environmental-violations\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:48:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789156109\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:44:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155870\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\",\"name\":\"Environment\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndoh\\/pr\\/dairy-manager-sentenced-role-polluting-waterway-waste-caused-fish-kill\",\"uuid\":\"adf25be3-03ab-4905-a72e-919c0f197041\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\u003Csup\\u003Eth\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThree months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMoussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cIt is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. \\u201cDedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155706\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\u003Csup\\u003Eth\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9\\/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edva\\/pr\\/eastern-district-virginia-hosts-911-observance-25th-anniversary-attacks\",\"uuid\":\"742b7955-ec26-4a6e-9f67-75f601244cc0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\u0022\\u003EIn April 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\u0022\\u003Ein May 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153560\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\",\"uuid\":\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAntonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. \\u201cEl Gato,\\u201d of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEspinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEspinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California \\u2013 Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789149945\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:35:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789148153\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-159\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Four-Times Deported Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/four-times-deported-illegal-immigrant-mexico-sentenced-more-11-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"c7ad99a6-0739-4550-9ee0-35762827e994\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJ Sav,\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/OCDETF\\u0022\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSN\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T11:41:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789141290\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:50:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789134656\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/alleged-trinitarios-gang-member-charged-drug-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"32c257b8-ef46-413e-adee-57c757cf5ef8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 37 months of imprisonment on his conviction of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Aquay Mitchell, 26, on September 10, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, on September 24, 2024, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detectives observed and attempted to stop Mitchell, suspecting that he possessed a firearm. Mitchell fled and was ultimately located hiding in a stairwell, with officers also finding a firearm, keys, and a cell phone along Mitchell\\u2019s flight path. The firearm was a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number that had been reported stolen, and the cellular telephone and keys belonged to Mitchell, who has multiple felony convictions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Mitchell was indicted in connection with the incident and a warrant issued for his arrest.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were conducting a proactive patrol of Pittsburgh\\u2019s Knoxville neighborhood when they observed Mitchell at a convenience store and took Mitchell into custody on the federal arrest warrant. In a search incident to arrest, officers recovered from Mitchell\\u2019s person a loaded semi-automatic pistol that also had been reported stolen, a knotted plastic baggie containing 11 grams of crack cocaine, a digital scale, and a cellular telephone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mitchell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T11:12:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789139549\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T11:11:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789139491\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/pittsburgh-felon-sentenced-more-three-years-prison-unlawful-possession-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"769c2b4a-af63-49bf-a037-c9e4b5c96011\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELEXINGTON, Ky. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA Louisville, Ky., man, Timothy Acker, 57, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAcker was previously convicted in 2018 for distributing illegal material involving minors and was a registered sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;In 2024, law enforcement investigated and identified Acker as an online user operating multiple illicit content\\u2011sharing groups on encrypted messaging platforms. In early 2025, a separate investigation by law enforcement led to the discovery of thousands of illicit images across multiple electronic devices in Acker\\u2019s possession. Some of these files corresponded to content distributed online through the earlier investigation. Acker admitted to knowingly possessing the child sexual abuse material that he obtained via the internet.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Chief Clint Aldridge, Owenton Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General\\u2019s Office, Owenton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Collaboration from Leigh Ann Roberts, Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky\\u2019s Fifteenth Judicial District, facilitated the federal adoption of the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u2013 END \\u2013\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T07:55:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789127714\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T07:47:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789127265\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edky\\/pr\\/registered-sex-offender-sentenced-possession-child-sexual-abuse-material\",\"uuid\":\"d6e43266-9032-4488-bae7-af2b9f1553d9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EHag\\u00e5t\\u00f1a, Guam \\u2013 United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson, serving the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces the results of \\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Protektot Y Famagu\\u2019on\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E (Defender of Children). This law enforcement initiative was led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Guam, with support from HSI Saipan, HSI Honolulu, HSI Atlanta Special Agents, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and HSI Task Force Officers from the Guam Police Department, Guam Customs \\u0026amp; Quarantine Agency, and Guam Airport Police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe operation, conducted from August 22 through August 27, involved a coordinated online undercover effort within the District of Guam aimed at identifying individuals attempting to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of federal law enforcement agencies nationwide to protect children, hold offenders accountable, and prevent internet facilitated offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAs a result of Operation Protektot Y Famagu\\u2019on, five individuals were arrested for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u00a7 2422(b) and 2:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul class=\\u0022Indent2\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022edd9985b68ffa135c7db88144103fb437\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMike Ybanez Balbuena\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 44-year-old, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ede1e519086b597cb2097d53368431109\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EEli Valentine\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 21-year-old, an active-duty U.S. Navy service member\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e813bd85db94f51f32a079689d686d6af\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKeola Joaquin H. Flores\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 30-year-old, a United States citizen\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e27b9431ae9f324cb6cbb7fddaa860776\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPeter John San Nicolas\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 36-year-old, a United States citizen\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eacac8478714cd56eaec5566ba277b26c\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAugusto Bagat Anselmo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 44-year-old, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. and citizen of the Republic of the Philippines\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;prosecution is\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Guam\\u0026nbsp;comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USSS, USPIS, USCIS\\u0026nbsp;and local law enforcement with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the\\u0026nbsp;District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty be [...truncated 13350 characters...] EEry Jordani Rosario, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cRacacha,\\u201d 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10, 2026. Rosario was charged \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\u0022\\u003Ein February 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members. In Massachusetts, the Trinitarios are alleged to have a state leadership, and multiple local Chapters in the cities of Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERosario was one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting on Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, Rosario and other chapter leaders of the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang\\u2019s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that will be visited upon members who betrayed the gang.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERosario also admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan driven by Ery Jordani Rosario containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring today\\u2019s court proceedings, Rosario admitted to his membership and leadership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Rosario wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\u0022\\u003EFebruary 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/twenty-six-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-related-five-murders-after\\u0022\\u003EJune 9, 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, members of the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in at least fifteen murders in Essex County since 2017. Since 2025, a total of 56 leaders, members and associates have been charged in federal court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as \\u201cracketeering conspiracy\\u201d or \\u201cRICO conspiracy\\u201d) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance (also known as drug conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million dollars. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/OCDETF\\u0022\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSN\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. 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Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.262

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "web_fetch",
  "tool_input": {
    "brief": "Most recent DOJ press releases, sorted newest first",
    "max_age_seconds": 3600,
    "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": "web_fetch"
}

tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.263

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "web_fetch",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "Most recent DOJ press releases, sorted newest first",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169598729
  }
}

tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.264

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "web_fetch",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272226\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":0},\\\"executionTime\\\":1.4591929912567139},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpokane, Washington \\\\u2013 First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EA team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:18:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150728\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68248c1d-1d3d-4ed1-90c4-bea03bd5a1ca\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Washington, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:16:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2:26-CR-0115-RLP\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edwa\\\\/pr\\\\/aaron-farinacci-federally-indicted-arson\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8abf429c-6955-4818-b3d9-fdcc3707eaa1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461061\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8ede7131-db62-45b3-8e65-e63dbb96aba9\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States alleges that from September 2015 through December 2020, St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute (St. Michael\\\\u2019s) and Dr. Michaelos caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, St. Michael\\\\u2019s and Dr. Michaelos admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. St. Michael\\\\u2019s had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid St. Michael\\\\u2019s for referrals that St. Michael\\\\u2019s made for TCD tests, even though the parties\\\\u2019 contracts called for payment based on the cost of office space, staff, and utilities, and not per-patient or per-test that St. Michael\\\\u2019s referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of these tests, Eyecuity submitted claims to Medicare that indicated that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Syndrome or Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI), a very rare condition. But St. Michael\\\\u2019s physicians did not have reason to believe that patients had a diagnosis of VBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States contends that the claims for the TCD tests that St. Michael\\\\u2019s and Dr. Michaelos caused Eyecuity to submit to Medicare for payment were false because St. Michael\\\\u2019s received payments from Eyecuity that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Weinograd of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u2019s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1461061\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n                                      \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n            \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/media\\\\/1461061\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=390485\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022michaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Emichaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                    \\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:35:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155353\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:33:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155181\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"87816596-1bad-44b8-b138-df98755a6895\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"False Claims Act\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"116c508a-1cad-440f-a7b2-5bdb81ced9e0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said, \\\\u201cThis violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he\\\\u2019ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws,\\\\u0022 said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. \\\\u0022ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:17:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132651\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:14:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132490\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/criminal-illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-federal-prison-after-threatening-woman-knife\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"328c9c39-4e0c-4765-bd2f-02e0267229ee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461056\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b094cb4-03d0-4856-a186-f788390b9c7a\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS, who is currently detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was\\\\u0026nbsp;presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Southern District of New York\\\\u0026nbsp;will use every available tool to protect children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cDustin Tompkins represents every parent\\\\u2019s greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. \\\\u0026nbsp;As alleged,\\\\u0026nbsp;while\\\\u0026nbsp;on\\\\u0026nbsp;supervision\\\\u0026nbsp;for\\\\u0026nbsp;a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography,\\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins used social media to\\\\u0026nbsp;communicate\\\\u0026nbsp;with minors and\\\\u0026nbsp;persuade\\\\u0026nbsp;them to create and send him sexually explicit images. \\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins is\\\\u0026nbsp;also\\\\u0026nbsp;alleged to have\\\\u0026nbsp;amassed\\\\u0026nbsp;additional child pornography\\\\u0026nbsp;via\\\\u0026nbsp;social media applications. \\\\u0026nbsp;If you have information to report,\\\\u0026nbsp;please immediately contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI\\\\u0026nbsp;(1-800-225-5324) or\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about March 18, 2015, TOMPKINS pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 18, United States Code, Section\\\\u0026nbsp;2252A(a)(2) and (b)(1), and was subsequently sentenced to 77\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about January 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in TOMPKINS\\\\u2019s bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone.\\\\u0026nbsp; A subsequent court-authorized search of that smartphone found images comprising child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on or about January 24, 2026, TOMPKINS had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFinally, the smartphone search found that TOMPKINS, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors.\\\\u0026nbsp; Specifically, on or about October 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and transmit the photograph to him.\\\\u0026nbsp; Then, on or about December 26, 2025, Tompkins directed, and attempted to direct, a 16\\\\u2011year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and transmit the photograph and video to him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere may be other victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1\\\\u2011800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOMPKINS, 38, of Mount Kisco, New York, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is finally charged with one count of committing the offenses charged in Counts One and Two while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to Counts One and Two.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald thanked\\\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3c32050731c80e95c532b465681ffe52\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153188\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:56:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-257\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-charged-sexual-exploitations-children-and-receipt-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b914b4dc-2237-47e8-a1b0-f0f7754d9916\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an \\\\u201cAR\\\\u201d style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America,\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:15:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146922\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:12:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146733\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, of Sedalia, Mo., was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/man-involved-shooting-sentenced-96-months-imprisonment-illegally-possessing-stolen\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"114e328e-22ea-472c-a6f6-fee6c0ba6599\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 A Dothan, Alabama tax preparer was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Thomas Govan for the Middle District of Alabama.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendant was entrusted with helping taxpayers comply with the law, yet she repeatedly chose to manipulate the tax system for her own benefit,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\\\u201cWhat makes this case particularly troubling is that the defendant did not change her ways after being indicted. While on federal pretrial release and under an explicit order not to commit additional crimes, she continued preparing false tax returns. Her decision to disregard both the law and the conditions of her release resulted in additional criminal charges and a significant federal prison sentence.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs a tax preparer, Carlotta Lampley had a responsibility to prepare and submit accurate tax returns for herself and her clients,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. \\\\u201cShe failed to fulfill that responsibility in order to obtain fraudulent refunds. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will investigate unscrupulous tax preparers, and they will be held accountable for their actions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Carlotta Elaine Lampley, 41, operated a tax preparation service in Dothan and began preparing tax returns for clients in 2015. As part of her business practice, Lampley commonly withheld her tax-preparation fees from clients\\\\u2019 tax refunds before transferring the remaining refund proceeds to the clients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn investigation revealed that Lampley prepared and filed false tax returns for herself and various clients during tax years 2020 through 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn her plea agreement, Lampley admitted that, in 2024, she prepared and filed a federal income tax return for herself for the 2023 tax year that falsely reported her income as $52,343. Lampley knew the reported income was false because it failed to include fees she earned from preparing clients\\\\u2019 tax returns and withheld from their refunds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury subsequently indicted Lampley, and she was arrested on September 24, 2025. As a condition of her pretrial release, Lampley was prohibited from committing any new violations of law while awaiting trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDespite being under federal indictment and released on bond, Lampley continued to prepare false tax returns. On January 22, 2026, she prepared a tax return for a client that falsely claimed the client operated a business and had earned a profit from that business, even though the client did not operate such a business and had never told Lampley that the client did. Lampley also falsely reported \\\\u201cother earned income\\\\u201d for the client despite knowing that the client had not received such income.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELampley admitted that she knew the false statements were material and were intended to affect the client\\\\u2019s federal tax liability in a manner that benefited the client at the expense of the Internal Revenue Service and the American taxpayer. The conduct also violated the terms of her pretrial release and resulted in a superseding indictment charging Lampley with additional criminal conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELampley\\\\u2019s 57-month prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the September 10, 2026, sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Lampley to pay restitution in the amount of $314,247. This consists of $62,915 associated with her own tax returns and $251,332 associated with tax returns she aided and assisted other taxpayers in filing. The estimated actual loss amount from Lampley\\\\u2019s false tax-return scheme over the full period of her criminal conduct exceeded $2.1 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:20:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154414\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:18:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154289\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dothan Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdal\\\\/pr\\\\/dothan-tax-preparer-sentenced-nearly-five-years-prison-filing-false-tax-returns\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"28b473a5-3b78-4e40-86f3-1e820344f80e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461011\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77d701bf-f401-47a4-8ec1-c5459b978318\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWe will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors\\\\u2019 money at risk,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cAs alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cVuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThese allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes\\\\u2014they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,\\\\u201d said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cWhile investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions \\\\u201cusing wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund\\\\u2019s returns to investors. VUKOVIC\\\\u2019s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of\\\\u0026nbsp;securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS.\\\\u0026nbsp;Mr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1c1f22f9ad843fe4236b2d44aa85a413\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:36:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130176\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:34:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130047\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-255\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4b912645-2e6f-4fe5-861b-6c0d1d50b996\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\\\u201cInvestor-1\\\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143928\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143792\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-256\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMONROE \\\\u2013 On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERandy Allen Powell,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\\\u201cProtecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\\\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\\\u0026nbsp;at \\\\u0026nbsp;https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/about-project-safe-childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\\\/\\\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONTACT:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ECara Alexander: (337) 262-6704\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5fca62bc-f789-4d4a-9f67-764e0c0610a1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:25:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147513\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\/pr\\\\/downsville-man-previously-convicted-receiving-child-pornography-indicted-again\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c8354d5-cf73-4277-8d5a-359e307bfe12\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA man who escaped custody and failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on September 10, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuane Levering, age 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from custody and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2005 Levering was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp; Based on this conviction, Levering is required to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the plea hearing, evidence showed that on December 23, 2025, Levering began confinement following his conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service received a Notice of Escaped Federal Prisoner for Levering from the Bureau of Prisons stating Levering failed to return to Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center from his reported employment site.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering admitted he willingly left the center and failed to register his new residence with the sex offender registry while he was on the run.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4019.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151212\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender  Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/sioux-city-man-who-failed-register-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-federal-court\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35f34b92-2117-42e2-9e1b-ad958e6a13d7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years\\\\u2019 supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELess than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office located Reed\\\\u2019s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EReed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:20:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147217\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:19:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/springfield-man-sentenced-over-20-years-meth-and-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"914778fc-9471-431f-9ea4-e70181684211\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. \\\\u201cWe continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.\\\\u201d \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnalysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents executed a search warrant at Champion\\\\u2019s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion\\\\u2019s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the \\\\u201creaper,\\\\u201d explained how good he is at shooting\\\\/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how \\\\u201chittin a mother***er\\\\u201d would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms \\\\u0026amp; Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie\\\\u0026nbsp;announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson\\\\u2019s Office are representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:13:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154032\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:12:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/gang-task-force-arrests-cincinnati-man-allegedly-tied-multiple-shootings\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a958bae7-b9b5-48b0-bc86-f0941e8923ec\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOLEDO, Ohio \\\\u2013 A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETeunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary\\\\u2019s River that flows to the Maumee River.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E,\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy\\\\u2019s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia\\\\u2014a pollutant\\\\u2014that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cReckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio\\\\u2019s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDavid M. Toepfer\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio. \\\\u201cLet this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA\\\\u2019s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. \\\\u201cClean water is one of Ohio\\\\u2019s and America\\\\u2019s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOhio\\\\u2019s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio\\\\u2019s waterways will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov\\\\/law-enforcement\\\\/bureau-of-criminal-investigation\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal\\\\u0026nbsp;Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/epa.ohio.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E Special Investigations Unit, with support from the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ohiodnr.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Department of Natural\\\\u0026nbsp;Resources\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMatthew D. Simko\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at\\\\u0026nbsp;800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.\\\\u0026nbsp;Potential environmental violations can be reported at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:48:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789156109\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:44:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155870\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndoh\\\\/pr\\\\/dairy-manager-sentenced-role-polluting-waterway-waste-caused-fish-kill\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"adf25be3-03ab-4905-a72e-919c0f197041\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThree months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMoussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. \\\\u201cDedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155706\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9\\\\/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/eastern-district-virginia-hosts-911-observance-25th-anniversary-attacks\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"742b7955-ec26-4a6e-9f67-75f601244cc0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein May 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153560\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. \\\\u201cEl Gato,\\\\u201d of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149945\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:35:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148153\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-159\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Four-Times Deported Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/four-times-deported-illegal-immigrant-mexico-sentenced-more-11-years-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c7ad99a6-0739-4550-9ee0-35762827e994\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJ Sav,\\\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:41:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789141290\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:50:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134656\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/alleged-trinitarios-gang-member-charged-drug-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32c257b8-ef46-413e-adee-57c757cf5ef8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 37 months of imprisonment on his conviction of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Aquay Mitchell, 26, on September 10, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, on September 24, 2024, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detectives observed and attempted to stop Mitchell, suspecting that he possessed a firearm. Mitchell fled and was ultimately located hiding in a stairwell, with officers also finding a firearm, keys, and a cell phone along Mitchell\\\\u2019s flight path. The firearm was a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number that had been reported stolen, and the cellular telephone and keys belonged to Mitchell, who has multiple felony convictions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Mitchell was indicted in connection with the incident and a warrant issued for his arrest.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were conducting a proactive patrol of Pittsburgh\\\\u2019s Knoxville neighborhood when they observed Mitchell at a convenience store and took Mitchell into custody on the federal arrest warrant. In a search incident to arrest, officers recovered from Mitchell\\\\u2019s person a loaded semi-automatic pistol that also had been reported stolen, a knotted plastic baggie containing 11 grams of crack cocaine, a digital scale, and a cellular telephone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mitchell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:12:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789139549\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:11:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789139491\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/pittsburgh-felon-sentenced-more-three-years-prison-unlawful-possession-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"769c2b4a-af63-49bf-a037-c9e4b5c96011\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELEXINGTON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Louisville, Ky., man, Timothy Acker, 57, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAcker was previously convicted in 2018 for distributing illegal material involving minors and was a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;In 2024, law enforcement investigated and identified Acker as an online user operating multiple illicit content\\\\u2011sharing groups on encrypted messaging platforms. In early 2025, a separate investigation by law enforcement led to the discovery of thousands of illicit images across multiple electronic devices in Acker\\\\u2019s possession. Some of these files corresponded to content distributed online through the earlier investigation. Acker admitted to knowingly possessing the child sexual abuse material that he obtained via the internet.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Chief Clint Aldridge, Owenton Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office, Owenton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Collaboration from Leigh Ann Roberts, Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky\\\\u2019s Fifteenth Judicial District, facilitated the federal adoption of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:55:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127714\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:47:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127265\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-sentenced-possession-child-sexual-abuse-material\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d6e43266-9032-4488-bae7-af2b9f1553d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHag\\\\u00e5t\\\\u00f1a, Guam \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson, serving the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces the results of \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Protektot Y Famagu\\\\u2019on\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E (Defender of Children). This law enforcement initiative was led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Guam, with support from HSI Saipan, HSI Honolulu, HSI Atlanta Special Agents, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and HSI Task Force Officers from the Guam Police Department, Guam Customs \\\\u0026amp; Quarantine Agency, and Guam Airport Police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe operation, conducted from August 22 through August 27, involved a coordinated online undercover effort within the District of Guam aimed at identifying individuals attempting to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of federal law enforcement agencies nationwide to protect children, hold offenders accountable, and prevent internet facilitated offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAs a result of Operation Protektot Y Famagu\\\\u2019on, five individuals were arrested for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u00a7 2422(b) and 2:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul class=\\\\u0022Indent2\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022edd9985b68ffa135c7db88144103fb437\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMike Ybanez Balbuena\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 44-year-old, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ede1e519086b597cb2097d53368431109\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEli Valentine\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 21-year-old, an active-duty U.S. Navy service member\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e813bd85db94f51f32a079689d686d6af\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKeola Joaquin H. Flores\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 30-year-old, a United States citizen\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e27b9431ae9f324cb6cbb7fddaa860776\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPeter John San Nicolas\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 36-year-old, a United States citizen\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eacac8478714cd56eaec5566ba277b26c\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAugusto Bagat Anselmo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 44-year-old, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. and citizen of the Republic of the Philippines\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;prosecution is\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Guam\\\\u0026nbsp;comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USSS, USPIS, USCIS\\\\u0026nbsp;and local law enforcement with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the\\\\u0026nbsp;District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty be\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nEEry Jordani Rosario, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRacacha,\\\\u201d 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10, 2026. Rosario was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein February 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members. In Massachusetts, the Trinitarios are alleged to have a state leadership, and multiple local Chapters in the cities of Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERosario was one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting on Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, Rosario and other chapter leaders of the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang\\\\u2019s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that will be visited upon members who betrayed the gang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERosario also admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan driven by Ery Jordani Rosario containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring today\\\\u2019s court proceedings, Rosario admitted to his membership and leadership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Rosario wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-related-five-murders-after\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJune 9, 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, members of the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in at least fifteen murders in Essex County since 2017. Since 2025, a total of 56 leaders, members and associates have been charged in federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as \\\\u201cracketeering conspiracy\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cRICO conspiracy\\\\u201d) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance (also known as drug conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million dollars. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. 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style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJames\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJimenez\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E18\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEry\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJordani Rosario\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPending\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E19\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWestyn\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELantigua\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/member-lynn-chapter-trinitarios-pleads-guilty-racketeering-conspiracy-2\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Awaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E20\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKelvin\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELiranzo Roman\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/trinitarios-gang-member-pleads-guilty-participating-2023-double-murder\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Awaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E21\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMichael\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMiliano\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-alig\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.096790278
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_016r8f531wGWAzyLjPDVBpDS

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 -c \"\nimport json,datetime\nd=json.load(open('9980505b41985f7c76dcb31d29526eaba5a042e79ec514191f21153a79de49c4.txt'))\ninner=json.loads(d['content'])\nrs=inner['results']\nfor r in rs:\n dt=datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(r['date'])).strftime('%Y-%m-%d')\n comp=[c.get('name') for c in r.get('component') or []]\n print(dt,'|',comp,'|',r['title'][:110])\n\" | head -60" }

Tool Progress E0030

(no result)

Tool Result E0031

2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Washington, Eastern'] | AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Florida, Northern'] | Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New York, Southern'] | Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Po 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Missouri, Western'] | Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Alabama, Middle'] | Dothan Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New York, Southern'] | Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New York, Southern'] | Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud 2026-09-11 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)', 'USAO - Louisiana, Western'] | Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornogra 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Iowa, Northern'] | Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal Court 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Missouri, Western'] | Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Ohio, Southern'] | Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Ohio, Northern'] | Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Virginia, Eastern'] | Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - California, Central'] | Four-Times Deported Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentan 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Pennsylvania, Western'] | Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Kentucky, Eastern'] | Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Guam & Northern Mariana Islands'] | Five Defendants Indicted for Attempted Enticement of Minors Following a Homeland Security Task Force Investig 2026-09-11 | ['National Fraud Enforcement Division', 'USAO - Texas, Western'] | Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter 2026-09-11 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Delaware'] | Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-Old 2026-09-11 | ['Department of Justice', 'USAO - Mississippi, Southern'] | Jackson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Leader of the Trinitarios in Massachusetts Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New Mexico'] | Two Mescalero Men Plead Guilty to Assault 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Kansas'] | Kansas man wearing ankle monitor caught with methamphetamine 2026-09-11 | ['Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)', 'USAO - Florida, Northern'] | Milton Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon 2026-09-11 | ['Office of the Attorney General', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'National Security Division (NSD)'] | Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Indiana, Southern'] | Former Indiana Medical School Student Petitions to Plead Guilty to $325K COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Louisiana, Middle'] | THREE ILLEGAL ALIENS PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO SEX TRAFFICKING BY FORCE, FRAUD, AND COERCION AND CONSPI 2026-09-11 | ['Criminal Division', 'Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - California, Southern'] | California Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Sadistic Child Sexual Abuse Material Over 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Arizona'] | District of Arizona Charges 306 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week 2026-09-11 | ['Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section', 'Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)', 'USAO - Wyoming'] | Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Recent Sentencings 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Alabama, Southern', 'USAO - Connecticut'] | Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Escaping from Bloomfield Halfway House 2026-09-11 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Minnesota'] | Arrested at Airport, Man Voluntarily Returns to Minnesota to Face Charges of Defrauding $1.3 Million in Housin 2026-09-11 | ['Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Louisiana, Western'] | Leesville Man Sentenced to Over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy 2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Iowa, Northern'] | Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms 2026-09-11 | ['National Fraud Enforcement Division', 'USAO - Idaho'] | Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy 2026-09-10 | ['Energy and Natural Resources Division', 'ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section'] | Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cle 2026-09-10 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges 2026-09-10 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Missouri, Eastern'] | Southeast Missouri Man Who Victimized Children Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison 2026-09-10 | ['USAO - Maryland'] | Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crim 2026-09-10 | ['USAO - District of Columbia'] | Jury Finds District Man Guilty of 2022 Armed Carjacking 2026-09-10 | ['Criminal Division', 'Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section', 'Criminal - Office of International Affairs', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Tennessee, Middle'] | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransom 2026-09-10 | ['USAO - South Carolina'] | Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspira 2026-09-10 | ['Civil Division', 'Office of the Associate Attorney General'] | The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment 2026-09-10 | ['USAO - New Jersey'] | Two Men, including a Mexican National, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy 2026-09-10 | ['Criminal - Office of International Affairs', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Tennessee, Middle'] | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransom 2026-09-10 | ['Criminal Division', 'Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Georgia, Northern'] | Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While S 2026-09-10 | ['USAO - West Virginia, Northern'] | Career Criminal Sentenced for Drug Distribution --- stderr --- <string>:7: DeprecationWarning: datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp() is deprecated and scheduled for removal in a future version. Use timezone-aware objects to represent datetimes in UTC: datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, datetime.UTC).

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_016r8f531wGWAzyLjPDVBpDS, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.265

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 -c \"\nimport json,datetime\nd=json.load(open('9980505b41985f7c76dcb31d29526eaba5a042e79ec514191f21153a79de49c4.txt'))\ninner=json.loads(d['content'])\nrs=inner['results']\nfor r in rs:\n    dt=datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(r['date'])).strftime('%Y-%m-%d')\n    comp=[c.get('name') for c in r.get('component') or []]\n    print(dt,'|',comp,'|',r['title'][:110])\n\" | head -60"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_016r8f531wGWAzyLjPDVBpDS",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.266

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_016r8f531wGWAzyLjPDVBpDS",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 -c \"\nimport json,da...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169603266
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.267

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_016r8f531wGWAzyLjPDVBpDS",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Washington, Eastern'] | AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Florida, Northern'] | Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New York, Southern'] | Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Po\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Missouri, Western'] | Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Alabama, Middle'] | Dothan Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New York, Southern'] | Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New York, Southern'] | Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\n2026-09-11 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)', 'USAO - Louisiana, Western'] | Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornogra\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Iowa, Northern'] | Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender  Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Missouri, Western'] | Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Ohio, Southern'] | Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Ohio, Northern'] | Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Virginia, Eastern'] | Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - California, Central'] | Four-Times Deported Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentan\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Pennsylvania, Western'] | Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Kentucky, Eastern'] | Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Guam & Northern Mariana Islands'] | Five Defendants Indicted for Attempted Enticement of Minors  Following a Homeland Security Task Force Investig\n2026-09-11 | ['National Fraud Enforcement Division', 'USAO - Texas, Western'] | Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter\n2026-09-11 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Delaware'] | Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-Old\n2026-09-11 | ['Department of Justice', 'USAO - Mississippi, Southern'] | Jackson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Leader of the Trinitarios in Massachusetts Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - New Mexico'] | Two Mescalero Men Plead Guilty to Assault\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Kansas'] | Kansas man wearing ankle monitor caught with methamphetamine \n2026-09-11 | ['Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)', 'USAO - Florida, Northern'] | Milton Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon \n2026-09-11 | ['Office of the Attorney General', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'National Security Division (NSD)'] | Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Indiana, Southern'] | Former Indiana Medical School Student Petitions to Plead Guilty to $325K COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Louisiana, Middle'] | THREE ILLEGAL ALIENS PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO SEX TRAFFICKING BY FORCE, FRAUD, AND COERCION AND CONSPI\n2026-09-11 | ['Criminal Division', 'Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - California, Southern'] | California Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Sadistic Child Sexual Abuse Material Over\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Arizona'] | District of Arizona Charges 306 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week\n2026-09-11 | ['Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section', 'Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)', 'USAO - Wyoming'] | Activity in the U.S. Attorney&#039;s Office Recent Sentencings \n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Alabama, Southern', 'USAO - Connecticut'] | Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Escaping from Bloomfield Halfway House \n2026-09-11 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Minnesota'] | Arrested at Airport, Man Voluntarily Returns to Minnesota to Face Charges of Defrauding $1.3 Million in Housin\n2026-09-11 | ['Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Louisiana, Western'] | Leesville Man Sentenced to Over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy\n2026-09-11 | ['USAO - Iowa, Northern'] | Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms\n2026-09-11 | ['National Fraud Enforcement Division', 'USAO - Idaho'] | Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy\n2026-09-10 | ['Energy and Natural Resources Division', 'ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section'] | Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cle\n2026-09-10 | ['USAO - Massachusetts'] | Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges\n2026-09-10 | ['Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Missouri, Eastern'] | Southeast Missouri Man Who Victimized Children Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison\n2026-09-10 | ['USAO - Maryland'] | Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crim\n2026-09-10 | ['USAO - District of Columbia'] | Jury Finds District Man Guilty of 2022 Armed Carjacking \n2026-09-10 | ['Criminal Division', 'Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section', 'Criminal - Office of International Affairs', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Tennessee, Middle'] | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransom\n2026-09-10 | ['USAO - South Carolina'] | Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspira\n2026-09-10 | ['Civil Division', 'Office of the Associate Attorney General'] | The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment \n2026-09-10 | ['USAO - New Jersey'] | Two Men, including a Mexican National, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\n2026-09-10 | ['Criminal - Office of International Affairs', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Tennessee, Middle'] | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransom\n2026-09-10 | ['Criminal Division', 'Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section', 'Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', 'USAO - Georgia, Northern'] | Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While S\n2026-09-10 | ['USAO - West Virginia, Northern'] | Career Criminal Sentenced for Drug Distribution\n\n--- stderr ---\n<string>:7: DeprecationWarning: datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp() is deprecated and scheduled for removal in a future version. Use timezone-aware objects to represent datetimes in UTC: datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, datetime.UTC).\n",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.100441506
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01BU1iA2pXi8gwSSE8DF7R9F

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases page 0, newest first", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0033

(no result)

Tool Result E0034

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":50,\"page\":0},\"executionTime\":2.2644438743591309},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESpokane, Washington \\u2013 First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EA team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:18:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789150728\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"68248c1d-1d3d-4ed1-90c4-bea03bd5a1ca\",\"name\":\"USAO - Washington, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:16:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789150588\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2:26-CR-0115-RLP\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edwa\\/pr\\/aaron-farinacci-federally-indicted-arson\",\"uuid\":\"8abf429c-6955-4818-b3d9-fdcc3707eaa1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said, \\u201cThis violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he\\u2019ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws,\\u0022 said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. \\u0022ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:17:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789132651\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:14:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789132490\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/criminal-illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-federal-prison-after-threatening-woman-knife\",\"uuid\":\"328c9c39-4e0c-4765-bd2f-02e0267229ee\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cKeeping dangerous, violent felons, like this defendant, off our streets is the surest way to keep our communities safe. I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to bring this dangerous criminal to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that Milton Police Department obtained a warrant to search the defendant\\u2019s home after receiving reports that he had fired a pistol inside the home during a domestic dispute. The defendant is a convicted felon and cannot legally possess a firearm. Upon searching the home, investigators found four 3D printers, multiple firearms made up of printed and manufactured gun parts, additional gun parts - both printed and manufactured - a Winchester rifle, significant amounts of ammunition, and some drugs and drug paraphernalia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cI am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and investigative efforts demonstrated by the Milton Police Department throughout this case,\\u201d said Milton Police Chief Frank. \\u201cThis case is a strong example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement and our prosecutorial partners work together with a shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the safety of the community we serve.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Milton Police Department, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:41:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789134061\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:24:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789133051\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Milton Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/milton-man-sentenced-possessing-firearms-convicted-felon\",\"uuid\":\"7e983c67-e139-40d5-837f-cc3a8b8fc419\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461056\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"6b094cb4-03d0-4856-a186-f788390b9c7a\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS, who is currently detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was\\u0026nbsp;presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Southern District of New York\\u0026nbsp;will use every available tool to protect children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cDustin Tompkins represents every parent\\u2019s greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. \\u0026nbsp;As alleged,\\u0026nbsp;while\\u0026nbsp;on\\u0026nbsp;supervision\\u0026nbsp;for\\u0026nbsp;a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography,\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins used social media to\\u0026nbsp;communicate\\u0026nbsp;with minors and\\u0026nbsp;persuade\\u0026nbsp;them to create and send him sexually explicit images. \\u0026nbsp;Tompkins is\\u0026nbsp;also\\u0026nbsp;alleged to have\\u0026nbsp;amassed\\u0026nbsp;additional child pornography\\u0026nbsp;via\\u0026nbsp;social media applications. \\u0026nbsp;If you have information to report,\\u0026nbsp;please immediately contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI\\u0026nbsp;(1-800-225-5324) or\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/tips.fbi.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/tips.fbi.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn or about March 18, 2015, TOMPKINS pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography, in violation of\\u0026nbsp;Title 18, United States Code, Section\\u0026nbsp;2252A(a)(2) and (b)(1), and was subsequently sentenced to 77\\u0026nbsp;months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn or about January 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in TOMPKINS\\u2019s bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone.\\u0026nbsp; A subsequent court-authorized search of that smartphone found images comprising child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on or about January 24, 2026, TOMPKINS had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFinally, the smartphone search found that TOMPKINS, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors.\\u0026nbsp; Specifically, on or about October 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and transmit the photograph to him.\\u0026nbsp; Then, on or about December 26, 2025, Tompkins directed, and attempted to direct, a 16\\u2011year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and transmit the photograph and video to him.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere may be other victims.\\u0026nbsp; If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1\\u2011800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https:\\/\\/tips.fbi.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETOMPKINS, 38, of Mount Kisco, New York, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is finally charged with one count of committing the offenses charged in Counts One and Two while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to Counts One and Two.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald thanked\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Probation Office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3c32050731c80e95c532b465681ffe52\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153188\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:56:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789152961\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-257\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/registered-sex-offender-charged-sexual-exploitations-children-and-receipt-and\",\"uuid\":\"b914b4dc-2237-47e8-a1b0-f0f7754d9916\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\u2013 A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.\\u0026nbsp;Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an \\u201cAR\\u201d style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America,\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:15:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789146922\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:12:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789146733\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, of Sedalia, Mo., was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/man-involved-shooting-sentenced-96-months-imprisonment-illegally-possessing-stolen\",\"uuid\":\"114e328e-22ea-472c-a6f6-fee6c0ba6599\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A man has been sentenced to nearly ten years in federal prison for committing an armed carjacking in Chicago.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe carjacking occurred on Oct. 23, 2024, on a street in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago\\u2019s West Side.\\u0026nbsp; The victim and a companion\\u2014who played a part in the carjacking\\u2014were sitting in the victim\\u2019s idling Dodge Challenger when the companion reached over to the gear shift to attempt to place the Challenger into park.\\u0026nbsp; The victim and the companion struggled over the gear shift.\\u0026nbsp;JAMES HAMPTON and ANDY COLON, JR. then approached the vehicle and brandished firearms.\\u0026nbsp; Hampton told the victim, \\u201cDon\\u2019t be stupid,\\u201d meaning that he would shoot the victim if he did not comply with his demands.\\u0026nbsp; Hampton and Colon stole the victim\\u2019s watch, gold necklace, and cell phone before they and the companion drove off in the Challenger.\\u0026nbsp;They were arrested a short time later after Chicago Police gave chase.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EUnbeknownst to the victim, the companion\\u2014MELIZA CALDERON\\u2014had been communicating with another individual about setting up the carjacking.\\u0026nbsp; The other individual allegedly told Calderon that he would send \\u201cthe guys\\u201d to \\u201chandle it.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EHampton, 19, of Chicago,\\u0026nbsp;pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges.\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Hampton to nine years and nine months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EHampton\\u2019s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and\\u0026nbsp;Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.\\u0026nbsp; The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.\\u0026nbsp;The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EColon pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm charges.\\u0026nbsp; Judge Blakey set Colon\\u2019s sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECalderon pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, carjacking, and firearm charges.\\u0026nbsp;Judge Blakey set Calderon\\u2019s sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:16:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789161411\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:14:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789161280\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJAMES HAMPTON brandished a gun during a carjacking on Chicago\\u2019s West Side.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Armed Carjacking in Chicago Leads to Nearly Ten-Year Federal Prison Sentence\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/armed-carjacking-chicago-leads-nearly-ten-year-federal-prison-sentence\",\"uuid\":\"74f24c21-1143-4705-9a80-298649d549c5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (\\u201cPPP\\u201d), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (\\u201cSBA\\u201d), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (\\u201cCPEC\\u201d).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (\\u201cEIDL\\u201d) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris\\u2019s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in \\u201ccost of goods sold\\u201d (i.e. payroll).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHowever, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend\\u2019s business.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T16:39:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789159152\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T16:28:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789158494\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edpa\\/pr\\/new-jersey-woman-who-defrauded-pandemic-relief-program-more-half-million-dollars\",\"uuid\":\"3c48e755-8b3a-4531-a731-e56c4ce7cce5\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461011\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"77d701bf-f401-47a4-8ec1-c5459b978318\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\u201cUSPIS\\u201d),\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\u201cOraclum\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\u201d or the \\u201cFund\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWe will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors\\u2019 money at risk,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cAs alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cVuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThese allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhen individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes\\u2014they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,\\u201d said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cWhile investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund.\\u0026nbsp; The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions \\u201cusing wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp; Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund\\u2019s returns to investors. VUKOVIC\\u2019s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of\\u0026nbsp;securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald\\u0026nbsp;praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS.\\u0026nbsp;Mr. McDonald\\u0026nbsp;further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e1c1f22f9ad843fe4236b2d44aa85a413\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T08:36:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789130176\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T08:34:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789130047\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-255\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\u201cUSPIS\\u201d),\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\u201cOraclum\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\u201d or the \\u201cFund\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\",\"uuid\":\"4b912645-2e6f-4fe5-861b-6c0d1d50b996\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\u201cJoonko\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\u201cInvestor-1\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789143928\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789143792\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-256\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\u201cJoonko\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\u2019s revenue.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMONROE \\u2013 On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERandy Allen Powell,\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cAs alleged, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u2019s\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,\\u201d said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\u201cProtecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPowell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\u0026nbsp;at \\u0026nbsp;https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\/about-project-safe-childhood\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\/\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECONTACT:\\u003Cbr\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla\\u003Cbr\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\u003Cbr\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\u003Cbr\\u003ECara Alexander: (337) 262-6704\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:38:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789148282\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"5fca62bc-f789-4d4a-9f67-764e0c0610a1\",\"name\":\"Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:25:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789147513\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla\\/pr\\/downsville-man-previously-convicted-receiving-child-pornography-indicted-again\",\"uuid\":\"4c8354d5-cf73-4277-8d5a-359e307bfe12\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man who escaped custody and failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on September 10, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuane Levering, age 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from custody and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp; In 2005 Levering was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for Nebraska.\\u0026nbsp; Based on this conviction, Levering is required to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the plea hearing, evidence showed that on December 23, 2025, Levering began confinement following his conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp; On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service received a Notice of Escaped Federal Prisoner for Levering from the Bureau of Prisons stating Levering failed to return to Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center from his reported employment site.\\u0026nbsp; Levering admitted he willingly left the center and failed to register his new residence with the sex offender registry while he was on the run.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\u0026nbsp; Levering remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\u0026nbsp; Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151282\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151212\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/sioux-city-man-who-failed-register-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-federal-court\",\"uuid\":\"35f34b92-2117-42e2-9e1b-ad958e6a13d7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man who possessed firearms illegally was sentenced September 9, 2026, to more than 4 years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua Layne Kelly, age 25, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 28, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the guilty plea, Kelly admitted that on November 6, 2025, in Webster County, he possessed an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver and a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, knowing he was then a felon.\\u0026nbsp; In early November 2025, he offered to sell an individual cooperating with law enforcement two revolvers.\\u0026nbsp; On November 6, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he sold the cooperating individual an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver, a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, and approximately 3.5 grams of synthetic cannabinoids (K2\\/Spice).\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPrior to his possession of the firearms, he had been convicted of numerous crimes including multiple incidents of Burglary and Theft.\\u0026nbsp; At the time of his possession of the firearms, he was also an unlawful user of marijuana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.\\u0026nbsp; Kelly was sentenced to 57 months\\u2019 imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Webster County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 25-CR-03064.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:29:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151393\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/fort-dodge-man-sentenced-federal-prison-illegally-possessing-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"184cbcfc-f5f7-4029-96ea-72d2c46fa8bc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\u2013 A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years\\u2019 supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELess than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff\\u2019s Office located Reed\\u2019s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EReed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:20:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789147217\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:19:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789147151\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/springfield-man-sentenced-over-20-years-meth-and-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"914778fc-9471-431f-9ea4-e70181684211\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\u2013 A Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Leobardo Carrasco, 39, of Wilmington, communicated with multiple minors on Snapchat, where he engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent them nude photos of himself, and asked the minors to send nude photographs and videos to him.\\u0026nbsp; For example, Carrasco convinced a 9-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos and to also share her location with him over Snapchat.\\u0026nbsp; After receiving her location, Carrasco traveled from Delaware to the girl\\u2019s Maryland residence in the middle of the night and tried to convince her to come with him.\\u0026nbsp; The girl did not get in his vehicle and Carrasco left.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarrasco is charged in a criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2423(b); production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2251(a); receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(2); and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(4)(B).\\u0026nbsp; If convicted, Carrasco faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;The FBI Baltimore\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with assistance from Anne Arundel County Police Department and Army Criminal Investigation (CID) Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-466.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T07:52:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789127555\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Delaware\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T01:17:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789103839\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-Old\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\/pr\\/delaware-army-reservist-arrested-production-child-pornography-and-traveling-sex-9-year\",\"uuid\":\"dcd7d019-0974-4300-874a-9f1c8d0aec5d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\u003Csup\\u003Eth\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThree months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMoussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cIt is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. \\u201cDedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155706\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\u003Csup\\u003Eth\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9\\/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edva\\/pr\\/eastern-district-virginia-hosts-911-observance-25th-anniversary-attacks\",\"uuid\":\"742b7955-ec26-4a6e-9f67-75f601244cc0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers\\u2019 compensation benefits for nearly 25 years.\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS-OIG), announced the verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFor more than 20 years and until her lies caught up to her, the defendant refused to come to work and instead collected tax-free disability benefits for a highly-exaggerated injury,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cOur Office and the Administration has made it a priority to hold accountable those who exploit government benefits programs for personal gain and steal funds that are designated for workers who truly need them.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) for their assistance with the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs proven at trial, in August 1997, Middleton, who was in her mid-forties, claimed that she had sustained an injury to her lower back while performing her duties as a postal clerk.\\u0026nbsp; Middleton submitted a claim for compensation to the DOL and began receiving workers\\u2019 compensation benefits approximately three months later.\\u0026nbsp; Middleton briefly returned to work in a limited duty capacity in February 1999, after a medical doctor found that she was in fact capable of working; but then claimed she had a recurrence of her back injury, which rendered her totally and permanently disabled.\\u0026nbsp; She again began receiving workers\\u2019 compensation benefits \\u2013 roughly two-thirds of her annual salary, tax-free \\u2013 from the DOL.\\u0026nbsp; Between November 1997 and September 2022, Middleton regularly submitted medical evaluations and records to the USPS and the DOL claiming that she was incapable of returning to work, and that she was totally disabled.\\u0026nbsp; The evaluations claimed, for example, that Middleton could sit, stand, walk, bend, lift and reach above her shoulders for zero hours and could not participate in any physical activities because of her excruciating back pain.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHowever, the investigation revealed that between October 2015 and March 2022, Middleton engaged in numerous physical activities, including cleaning out a garage, sitting through a movie for more than two hours, standing for more than one hour at a cookie decorating class, climbing stairs and retail shopping.\\u0026nbsp; Middleton was observed, and captured on video footage, carrying groceries and laundry bags, lifting and reaching for objects at heights she claimed she could not reach, bending to the floor to retrieve items, and hoisting a bag of potting soil from the bottom of her shopping cart into her vehicle.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;Records from USPS and DOL indicate that Middleton received more than $900,000 in fraudulent workers\\u2019 compensation benefits as the result of her claimed physical limitations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division).\\u0026nbsp; The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office\\u2019s Long Island Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Ashlyn Miranda are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder, Legal Assistant Danielle Rompel, and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELUANN MIDDLETON\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge: 72\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003EGlen Cove, New York\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-339 (GRB)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:48:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789163329\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:36:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789162589\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers\\u2019 compensation benefits for nearly 25 years.\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Postal Worker Convicted of Stealing Nearly $1 Million in Tax-Free Federal Disability Benefits\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/former-postal-worker-convicted-stealing-nearly-1-million-tax-free-federal-disability\",\"uuid\":\"1e4468a9-8f75-4fa5-ae16-ce671556093b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a\\/k\\/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a\\/k\\/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a\\/k\\/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a\\/k\\/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\\u2019s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 title=\\u0022Operation Take Back America Memo\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Chuck Sullivan and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:30:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789162234\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:26:32-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789161992\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a\\/k\\/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a\\/k\\/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a\\/k\\/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a\\/k\\/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Sentenced For Unlawful Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-unlawful-reentry-35\",\"uuid\":\"2aee0585-1658-4891-af9b-892460d74d63\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\u0022\\u003EIn April 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\u0022\\u003Ein May 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153560\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\",\"uuid\":\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECINCINNATI \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. \\u201cWe continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.\\u201d \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnalysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAgents executed a search warrant at Champion\\u2019s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChampion\\u2019s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the \\u201creaper,\\u201d explained how good he is at shooting\\/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how \\u201chittin a mother***er\\u201d would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChampion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms \\u0026amp; Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie\\u0026nbsp;announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson\\u2019s Office are representing the United States in this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:13:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789154032\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:12:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153961\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECINCINNATI \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdoh\\/pr\\/gang-task-force-arrests-cincinnati-man-allegedly-tied-multiple-shootings\",\"uuid\":\"a958bae7-b9b5-48b0-bc86-f0941e8923ec\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJ Sav,\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/OCDETF\\u0022\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSN\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00 [...truncated 13350 characters...] llowing a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-gu\\/pr\\/five-defendants-indicted-attempted-enticement-minors-following-homeland-security-task\",\"uuid\":\"03cbf29a-eff3-454c-9038-b8a59506c019\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Texas man was sentenced this week to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Aanand Shukla, of Jonestown, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States related to his efforts to promote a fraudulent tax shelter to business owners across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 to 2025, Shukla and his co-conspirators promoted, sold and personally used an abusive trust tax shelter that promised clients \\u2014 for quoted fees as high as $225,000 \\u2014 that they could \\u201cown nothing, control everything\\u201d and eliminate taxes on nearly all of their business income while maintaining full control over their money.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EShukla marketed the scheme nationwide through seminars, webinars, podcasts and direct sales pitches. He instructed clients to restructure their companies so that approximately 98% of their business income flowed through layered trusts and a private family foundation. He told clients to run personal expenses \\u2014 such as vehicles, entertainment and mortgage payments \\u2014 through trust accounts and claim those expenses as deductions. Shukla typically sold these trust packages to clients for $25,000 to $55,000, created trust documents, trained other promoters and referred clients to tax preparers he had personally selected and knew would participate in the scheme. Shukla facilitated the concealment of more than $27 million in income from the IRS.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 10, Shukla pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s Nation Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EActing Assistant Deputy Chief Boris Bourget, Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones and former Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T11:38:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789141117\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T11:21:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789140089\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1044\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter\",\"uuid\":\"43e31f50-b2d0-48b8-984b-150a2645b8c8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETOLEDO, Ohio \\u2013 A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETeunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary\\u2019s River that flows to the Maumee River.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy\\u003Cem\\u003E,\\u003C\\/em\\u003E when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy\\u2019s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia\\u2014a pollutant\\u2014that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cReckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio\\u2019s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDavid M. Toepfer\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio. \\u201cLet this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA\\u2019s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. \\u201cClean water is one of Ohio\\u2019s and America\\u2019s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cOhio\\u2019s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio\\u2019s waterways will be held accountable,\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.epa.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov\\/law-enforcement\\/bureau-of-criminal-investigation\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOhio Attorney General\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal\\u0026nbsp;Investigation\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, and the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/epa.ohio.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOhio Environmental Protection\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Special Investigations Unit, with support from the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ohiodnr.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOhio Department of Natural\\u0026nbsp;Resources\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMatthew D. Simko\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at\\u0026nbsp;800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.\\u0026nbsp;Potential environmental violations can be reported at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/echo.epa.gov\\/report-environmental-violations\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/echo.epa.gov\\/report-environmental-violations\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:48:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789156109\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:44:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789155870\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\",\"name\":\"Environment\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndoh\\/pr\\/dairy-manager-sentenced-role-polluting-waterway-waste-caused-fish-kill\",\"uuid\":\"adf25be3-03ab-4905-a72e-919c0f197041\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGulfport, MS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Jackson County, Mississippi man was sentenced on September 9, 2026, to 15 years in prison, the maximum amount of prison time provided by federal law, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Lee Craven, 46, was found possessing a firearm by the Jackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Department on June 22, 2025, after they were called to his home for a domestic disturbance. Craven was captured on an audio recording physically and verbally abusing a female victim while holding her at gunpoint.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:30:44-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789144244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"03d3abbf-d79b-4e8f-aec5-c2045a0ee879\",\"name\":\"Department of Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"e0caf4e9-dfe7-461d-bba1-5423e45ec34f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Mississippi, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:28:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789144081\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Jackson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdms\\/pr\\/jackson-county-man-sentenced-15-years-prison-being-felon-possession-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"5adf5a0e-82b8-49fd-8d3f-a5aba1416ab5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ENarcotics\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJoseph Randall Summerlin,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in May 2025, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) learned that Summerlin was selling methamphetamine on the Wind River Reservation. Special agents conducted a controlled buy, purchasing more than one ounce of methamphetamine from him. DCI investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Summerlin was indicted Sept. 16, 2025, and pleaded guilty May 27, 2026. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence Sept. 9, 2026, in Cheyenne. Case No. 25CR00137-01KHR\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAbout the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener\\u0022 data-once=\\u0022usdoj-extlink-stale-reset\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Childhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/operation-take-back-america\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOperation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wy\\/victim-witness-program\\u0022 target=\\u0022_self\\u0022\\u003EVictim Witness Program\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo report a federal crime, go to: \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/actioncenter\\/report-crime\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/actioncenter\\/report-crime\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789149954\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\",\"name\":\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d9b7193e-06fe-42e9-aaef-0b6fe19104d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Wyoming\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T13:43:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789148638\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-043\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJoseph Randall Summerlin,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Activity in the U.S. Attorney\\u0026#039;s Office Recent Sentencings \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wy\\/pr\\/activity-us-attorneys-office-recent-sentencings-3\",\"uuid\":\"fdb83436-b382-4a21-8318-c1848eff5f5f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Two Mescalero men pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from an unprovoked attack that left a victim with serious head injuries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on September 11, 2025, John Doe was at a residence within the exterior boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation when he was assaulted by \\u003Cstrong\\u003EHarlyn Cody Geronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 50, and \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERaymond Shaun Chee\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 28, both enrolled members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGeronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EChee\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E struck John Doe in the head during the assault. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGeronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E also struck John Doe with his fists and a pair of rain boots and kicked him while he was on the ground. The assault caused significant contusions and a 4-centimeter scalp laceration to John Doe\\u2019s head and resulted in serious bodily injury.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitnesses reported that \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGeronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, who was wearing steel-toed boots, kicked John Doe in the head. After the incident, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EChee\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E fled the scene.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing his arrest, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGeronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s steel-toed boots were recovered and found to contain dried blood. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGeronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E later denied assaulting John Doe, despite witness statements to the contrary.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGeronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EChee\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, they face up to 10 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case.\\u0026nbsp;The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789149931\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Mexico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:04:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789149861\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-265\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EHarlyn Cody Geronimo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERaymond Shaun Chee\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from an unprovoked attack that left a victim with serious head injuries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Mescalero Men Plead Guilty to Assault\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nm\\/pr\\/two-mescalero-men-plead-guilty-assault\",\"uuid\":\"8c5a711e-6838-4386-882b-6378b8a10a27\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWICHITA, KAN. \\u2013 A Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Dakota Dale McDaniel, 38, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2025, as part of an investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) attempted to stop McDaniel with lights and sirens. He refused to yield and kept driving. Before losing sight of him, a trooper observed that McDaniel was wearing a black backpack. When law enforcement located McDaniel a short time later, the motorcycle and the backpack were on the ground. A trooper searched the backpack and found a bag of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a firearm among other items. McDaniel was wearing a Kansas Department of Corrections ankle monitor, and the charger for it was also in the backpack.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaboratory tests determined that the bag contained 240.23 grams of 98.2 percent pure methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDakota McDaniel can now add another prison sentence to his long resume as a career criminal,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \\u201cWe\\u2019re grateful for the exceptional teamwork among our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to keep methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs off our streets.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Kansas Highway Patrol, Sedgwick County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Butler County Sheriff\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153161\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kansas\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:55:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789152916\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Kansas man wearing ankle monitor caught with methamphetamine \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ks\\/pr\\/kansas-man-wearing-ankle-monitor-caught-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"258c0b94-32ae-4e38-9e41-68eae3466a5e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAntonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. \\u201cEl Gato,\\u201d of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEspinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEspinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California \\u2013 Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States A [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01BU1iA2pXi8gwSSE8DF7R9F, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.268

Inner payload

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Inner payload

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":0},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.2644438743591309},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpokane, Washington \\\\u2013 First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EA team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:18:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150728\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68248c1d-1d3d-4ed1-90c4-bea03bd5a1ca\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Washington, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:16:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2:26-CR-0115-RLP\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edwa\\\\/pr\\\\/aaron-farinacci-federally-indicted-arson\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8abf429c-6955-4818-b3d9-fdcc3707eaa1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said, \\\\u201cThis violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he\\\\u2019ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws,\\\\u0022 said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. \\\\u0022ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:17:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132651\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:14:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132490\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/criminal-illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-federal-prison-after-threatening-woman-knife\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"328c9c39-4e0c-4765-bd2f-02e0267229ee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cKeeping dangerous, violent felons, like this defendant, off our streets is the surest way to keep our communities safe. I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to bring this dangerous criminal to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that Milton Police Department obtained a warrant to search the defendant\\\\u2019s home after receiving reports that he had fired a pistol inside the home during a domestic dispute. The defendant is a convicted felon and cannot legally possess a firearm. Upon searching the home, investigators found four 3D printers, multiple firearms made up of printed and manufactured gun parts, additional gun parts - both printed and manufactured - a Winchester rifle, significant amounts of ammunition, and some drugs and drug paraphernalia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cI am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and investigative efforts demonstrated by the Milton Police Department throughout this case,\\\\u201d said Milton Police Chief Frank. \\\\u201cThis case is a strong example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement and our prosecutorial partners work together with a shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the safety of the community we serve.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Milton Police Department, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:41:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134061\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:24:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789133051\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Milton Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/milton-man-sentenced-possessing-firearms-convicted-felon\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e983c67-e139-40d5-837f-cc3a8b8fc419\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461056\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b094cb4-03d0-4856-a186-f788390b9c7a\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS, who is currently detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was\\\\u0026nbsp;presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Southern District of New York\\\\u0026nbsp;will use every available tool to protect children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cDustin Tompkins represents every parent\\\\u2019s greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. \\\\u0026nbsp;As alleged,\\\\u0026nbsp;while\\\\u0026nbsp;on\\\\u0026nbsp;supervision\\\\u0026nbsp;for\\\\u0026nbsp;a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography,\\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins used social media to\\\\u0026nbsp;communicate\\\\u0026nbsp;with minors and\\\\u0026nbsp;persuade\\\\u0026nbsp;them to create and send him sexually explicit images. \\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins is\\\\u0026nbsp;also\\\\u0026nbsp;alleged to have\\\\u0026nbsp;amassed\\\\u0026nbsp;additional child pornography\\\\u0026nbsp;via\\\\u0026nbsp;social media applications. \\\\u0026nbsp;If you have information to report,\\\\u0026nbsp;please immediately contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI\\\\u0026nbsp;(1-800-225-5324) or\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about March 18, 2015, TOMPKINS pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 18, United States Code, Section\\\\u0026nbsp;2252A(a)(2) and (b)(1), and was subsequently sentenced to 77\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about January 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in TOMPKINS\\\\u2019s bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone.\\\\u0026nbsp; A subsequent court-authorized search of that smartphone found images comprising child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on or about January 24, 2026, TOMPKINS had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFinally, the smartphone search found that TOMPKINS, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors.\\\\u0026nbsp; Specifically, on or about October 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and transmit the photograph to him.\\\\u0026nbsp; Then, on or about December 26, 2025, Tompkins directed, and attempted to direct, a 16\\\\u2011year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and transmit the photograph and video to him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere may be other victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1\\\\u2011800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOMPKINS, 38, of Mount Kisco, New York, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is finally charged with one count of committing the offenses charged in Counts One and Two while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to Counts One and Two.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald thanked\\\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3c32050731c80e95c532b465681ffe52\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153188\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:56:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-257\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-charged-sexual-exploitations-children-and-receipt-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b914b4dc-2237-47e8-a1b0-f0f7754d9916\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an \\\\u201cAR\\\\u201d style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America,\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:15:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146922\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:12:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146733\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, of Sedalia, Mo., was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/man-involved-shooting-sentenced-96-months-imprisonment-illegally-possessing-stolen\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"114e328e-22ea-472c-a6f6-fee6c0ba6599\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A man has been sentenced to nearly ten years in federal prison for committing an armed carjacking in Chicago.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe carjacking occurred on Oct. 23, 2024, on a street in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago\\\\u2019s West Side.\\\\u0026nbsp; The victim and a companion\\\\u2014who played a part in the carjacking\\\\u2014were sitting in the victim\\\\u2019s idling Dodge Challenger when the companion reached over to the gear shift to attempt to place the Challenger into park.\\\\u0026nbsp; The victim and the companion struggled over the gear shift.\\\\u0026nbsp;JAMES HAMPTON and ANDY COLON, JR. then approached the vehicle and brandished firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp; Hampton told the victim, \\\\u201cDon\\\\u2019t be stupid,\\\\u201d meaning that he would shoot the victim if he did not comply with his demands.\\\\u0026nbsp; Hampton and Colon stole the victim\\\\u2019s watch, gold necklace, and cell phone before they and the companion drove off in the Challenger.\\\\u0026nbsp;They were arrested a short time later after Chicago Police gave chase.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUnbeknownst to the victim, the companion\\\\u2014MELIZA CALDERON\\\\u2014had been communicating with another individual about setting up the carjacking.\\\\u0026nbsp; The other individual allegedly told Calderon that he would send \\\\u201cthe guys\\\\u201d to \\\\u201chandle it.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHampton, 19, of Chicago,\\\\u0026nbsp;pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges.\\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Hampton to nine years and nine months in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHampton\\\\u2019s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.\\\\u0026nbsp;The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EColon pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm charges.\\\\u0026nbsp; Judge Blakey set Colon\\\\u2019s sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECalderon pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, carjacking, and firearm charges.\\\\u0026nbsp;Judge Blakey set Calderon\\\\u2019s sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:16:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161411\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:14:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161280\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJAMES HAMPTON brandished a gun during a carjacking on Chicago\\\\u2019s West Side.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Carjacking in Chicago Leads to Nearly Ten-Year Federal Prison Sentence\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-carjacking-chicago-leads-nearly-ten-year-federal-prison-sentence\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74f24c21-1143-4705-9a80-298649d549c5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\\\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (\\\\u201cPPP\\\\u201d), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (\\\\u201cSBA\\\\u201d), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (\\\\u201cCPEC\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (\\\\u201cEIDL\\\\u201d) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris\\\\u2019s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in \\\\u201ccost of goods sold\\\\u201d (i.e. payroll).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHowever, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend\\\\u2019s business.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:39:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789159152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:28:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789158494\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edpa\\\\/pr\\\\/new-jersey-woman-who-defrauded-pandemic-relief-program-more-half-million-dollars\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c48e755-8b3a-4531-a731-e56c4ce7cce5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461011\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77d701bf-f401-47a4-8ec1-c5459b978318\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWe will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors\\\\u2019 money at risk,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cAs alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cVuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThese allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes\\\\u2014they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,\\\\u201d said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cWhile investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions \\\\u201cusing wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund\\\\u2019s returns to investors. VUKOVIC\\\\u2019s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of\\\\u0026nbsp;securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS.\\\\u0026nbsp;Mr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1c1f22f9ad843fe4236b2d44aa85a413\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:36:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130176\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:34:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130047\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-255\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4b912645-2e6f-4fe5-861b-6c0d1d50b996\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\\\u201cInvestor-1\\\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143928\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143792\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-256\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMONROE \\\\u2013 On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERandy Allen Powell,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\\\u201cProtecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\\\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\\\u0026nbsp;at \\\\u0026nbsp;https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/about-project-safe-childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\\\/\\\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONTACT:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ECara Alexander: (337) 262-6704\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5fca62bc-f789-4d4a-9f67-764e0c0610a1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:25:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147513\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\/pr\\\\/downsville-man-previously-convicted-receiving-child-pornography-indicted-again\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c8354d5-cf73-4277-8d5a-359e307bfe12\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA man who escaped custody and failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on September 10, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuane Levering, age 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from custody and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2005 Levering was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp; Based on this conviction, Levering is required to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the plea hearing, evidence showed that on December 23, 2025, Levering began confinement following his conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service received a Notice of Escaped Federal Prisoner for Levering from the Bureau of Prisons stating Levering failed to return to Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center from his reported employment site.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering admitted he willingly left the center and failed to register his new residence with the sex offender registry while he was on the run.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4019.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151212\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender  Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/sioux-city-man-who-failed-register-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-federal-court\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35f34b92-2117-42e2-9e1b-ad958e6a13d7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA man who possessed firearms illegally was sentenced September 9, 2026, to more than 4 years in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoshua Layne Kelly, age 25, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 28, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the guilty plea, Kelly admitted that on November 6, 2025, in Webster County, he possessed an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver and a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, knowing he was then a felon.\\\\u0026nbsp; In early November 2025, he offered to sell an individual cooperating with law enforcement two revolvers.\\\\u0026nbsp; On November 6, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he sold the cooperating individual an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver, a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, and approximately 3.5 grams of synthetic cannabinoids (K2\\\\/Spice).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPrior to his possession of the firearms, he had been convicted of numerous crimes including multiple incidents of Burglary and Theft.\\\\u0026nbsp; At the time of his possession of the firearms, he was also an unlawful user of marijuana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.\\\\u0026nbsp; Kelly was sentenced to 57 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly is being held in the United States Marshal\\\\u2019s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Webster County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 25-CR-03064.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:29:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151393\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151330\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/fort-dodge-man-sentenced-federal-prison-illegally-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"184cbcfc-f5f7-4029-96ea-72d2c46fa8bc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years\\\\u2019 supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELess than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office located Reed\\\\u2019s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EReed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:20:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147217\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:19:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/springfield-man-sentenced-over-20-years-meth-and-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"914778fc-9471-431f-9ea4-e70181684211\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\\\u2013 A Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Leobardo Carrasco, 39, of Wilmington, communicated with multiple minors on Snapchat, where he engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent them nude photos of himself, and asked the minors to send nude photographs and videos to him.\\\\u0026nbsp; For example, Carrasco convinced a 9-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos and to also share her location with him over Snapchat.\\\\u0026nbsp; After receiving her location, Carrasco traveled from Delaware to the girl\\\\u2019s Maryland residence in the middle of the night and tried to convince her to come with him.\\\\u0026nbsp; The girl did not get in his vehicle and Carrasco left.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECarrasco is charged in a criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2423(b); production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2251(a); receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(2); and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(4)(B).\\\\u0026nbsp; If convicted, Carrasco faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;The FBI Baltimore\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with assistance from Anne Arundel County Police Department and Army Criminal Investigation (CID) Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-466.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:52:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127555\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Delaware\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T01:17:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789103839\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-Old\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\/pr\\\\/delaware-army-reservist-arrested-production-child-pornography-and-traveling-sex-9-year\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dcd7d019-0974-4300-874a-9f1c8d0aec5d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThree months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMoussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. \\\\u201cDedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155706\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9\\\\/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/eastern-district-virginia-hosts-911-observance-25th-anniversary-attacks\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"742b7955-ec26-4a6e-9f67-75f601244cc0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits for nearly 25 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS-OIG), announced the verdict.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFor more than 20 years and until her lies caught up to her, the defendant refused to come to work and instead collected tax-free disability benefits for a highly-exaggerated injury,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cOur Office and the Administration has made it a priority to hold accountable those who exploit government benefits programs for personal gain and steal funds that are designated for workers who truly need them.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) for their assistance with the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs proven at trial, in August 1997, Middleton, who was in her mid-forties, claimed that she had sustained an injury to her lower back while performing her duties as a postal clerk.\\\\u0026nbsp; Middleton submitted a claim for compensation to the DOL and began receiving workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits approximately three months later.\\\\u0026nbsp; Middleton briefly returned to work in a limited duty capacity in February 1999, after a medical doctor found that she was in fact capable of working; but then claimed she had a recurrence of her back injury, which rendered her totally and permanently disabled.\\\\u0026nbsp; She again began receiving workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits \\\\u2013 roughly two-thirds of her annual salary, tax-free \\\\u2013 from the DOL.\\\\u0026nbsp; Between November 1997 and September 2022, Middleton regularly submitted medical evaluations and records to the USPS and the DOL claiming that she was incapable of returning to work, and that she was totally disabled.\\\\u0026nbsp; The evaluations claimed, for example, that Middleton could sit, stand, walk, bend, lift and reach above her shoulders for zero hours and could not participate in any physical activities because of her excruciating back pain.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHowever, the investigation revealed that between October 2015 and March 2022, Middleton engaged in numerous physical activities, including cleaning out a garage, sitting through a movie for more than two hours, standing for more than one hour at a cookie decorating class, climbing stairs and retail shopping.\\\\u0026nbsp; Middleton was observed, and captured on video footage, carrying groceries and laundry bags, lifting and reaching for objects at heights she claimed she could not reach, bending to the floor to retrieve items, and hoisting a bag of potting soil from the bottom of her shopping cart into her vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Records from USPS and DOL indicate that Middleton received more than $900,000 in fraudulent workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits as the result of her claimed physical limitations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division).\\\\u0026nbsp; The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office\\\\u2019s Long Island Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Ashlyn Miranda are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder, Legal Assistant Danielle Rompel, and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELUANN MIDDLETON\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge: 72\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EGlen Cove, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-339 (GRB)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:48:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789163329\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:36:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789162589\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits for nearly 25 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Postal Worker Convicted of Stealing Nearly $1 Million in Tax-Free Federal Disability Benefits\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/former-postal-worker-convicted-stealing-nearly-1-million-tax-free-federal-disability\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1e4468a9-8f75-4fa5-ae16-ce671556093b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Operation Take Back America Memo\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Chuck Sullivan and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:30:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789162234\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:26:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Sentenced For Unlawful Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-unlawful-reentry-35\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2aee0585-1658-4891-af9b-892460d74d63\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein May 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153560\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. \\\\u201cWe continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.\\\\u201d \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnalysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents executed a search warrant at Champion\\\\u2019s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion\\\\u2019s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the \\\\u201creaper,\\\\u201d explained how good he is at shooting\\\\/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how \\\\u201chittin a mother***er\\\\u201d would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms \\\\u0026amp; Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie\\\\u0026nbsp;announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson\\\\u2019s Office are representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:13:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154032\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:12:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/gang-task-force-arrests-cincinnati-man-allegedly-tied-multiple-shootings\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a958bae7-b9b5-48b0-bc86-f0941e8923ec\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJ Sav,\\\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nllowing a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-gu\\\\/pr\\\\/five-defendants-indicted-attempted-enticement-minors-following-homeland-security-task\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"03cbf29a-eff3-454c-9038-b8a59506c019\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Texas man was sentenced this week to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Aanand Shukla, of Jonestown, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States related to his efforts to promote a fraudulent tax shelter to business owners across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 to 2025, Shukla and his co-conspirators promoted, sold and personally used an abusive trust tax shelter that promised clients \\\\u2014 for quoted fees as high as $225,000 \\\\u2014 that they could \\\\u201cown nothing, control everything\\\\u201d and eliminate taxes on nearly all of their business income while maintaining full control over their money.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EShukla marketed the scheme nationwide through seminars, webinars, podcasts and direct sales pitches. He instructed clients to restructure their companies so that approximately 98% of their business income flowed through layered trusts and a private family foundation. He told clients to run personal expenses \\\\u2014 such as vehicles, entertainment and mortgage payments \\\\u2014 through trust accounts and claim those expenses as deductions. Shukla typically sold these trust packages to clients for $25,000 to $55,000, created trust documents, trained other promoters and referred clients to tax preparers he had personally selected and knew would participate in the scheme. Shukla facilitated the concealment of more than $27 million in income from the IRS.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 10, Shukla pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Nation Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActing Assistant Deputy Chief Boris Bourget, Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones and former Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:38:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789141117\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:21:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789140089\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1044\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"43e31f50-b2d0-48b8-984b-150a2645b8c8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOLEDO, Ohio \\\\u2013 A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETeunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary\\\\u2019s River that flows to the Maumee River.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E,\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy\\\\u2019s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia\\\\u2014a pollutant\\\\u2014that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cReckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio\\\\u2019s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDavid M. Toepfer\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio. \\\\u201cLet this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA\\\\u2019s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. \\\\u201cClean water is one of Ohio\\\\u2019s and America\\\\u2019s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOhio\\\\u2019s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio\\\\u2019s waterways will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov\\\\/law-enforcement\\\\/bureau-of-criminal-investigation\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal\\\\u0026nbsp;Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/epa.ohio.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E Special Investigations Unit, with support from the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ohiodnr.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Department of Natural\\\\u0026nbsp;Resources\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMatthew D. Simko\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at\\\\u0026nbsp;800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.\\\\u0026nbsp;Potential environmental violations can be reported at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:48:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789156109\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:44:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155870\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndoh\\\\/pr\\\\/dairy-manager-sentenced-role-polluting-waterway-waste-caused-fish-kill\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"adf25be3-03ab-4905-a72e-919c0f197041\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGulfport, MS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Jackson County, Mississippi man was sentenced on September 9, 2026, to 15 years in prison, the maximum amount of prison time provided by federal law, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Lee Craven, 46, was found possessing a firearm by the Jackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department on June 22, 2025, after they were called to his home for a domestic disturbance. Craven was captured on an audio recording physically and verbally abusing a female victim while holding her at gunpoint.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:30:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789144244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"03d3abbf-d79b-4e8f-aec5-c2045a0ee879\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Department of Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e0caf4e9-dfe7-461d-bba1-5423e45ec34f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Mississippi, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:28:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789144081\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jackson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdms\\\\/pr\\\\/jackson-county-man-sentenced-15-years-prison-being-felon-possession-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5adf5a0e-82b8-49fd-8d3f-a5aba1416ab5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ENarcotics\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJoseph Randall Summerlin,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in May 2025, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) learned that Summerlin was selling methamphetamine on the Wind River Reservation. Special agents conducted a controlled buy, purchasing more than one ounce of methamphetamine from him. DCI investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Summerlin was indicted Sept. 16, 2025, and pleaded guilty May 27, 2026. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence Sept. 9, 2026, in Cheyenne. Case No. 25CR00137-01KHR\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAbout the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022 data-once=\\\\u0022usdoj-extlink-stale-reset\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/operation-take-back-america\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wy\\\\/victim-witness-program\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_self\\\\u0022\\\\u003EVictim Witness Program\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo report a federal crime, go to: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/actioncenter\\\\/report-crime\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/actioncenter\\\\/report-crime\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149954\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d9b7193e-06fe-42e9-aaef-0b6fe19104d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wyoming\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:43:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148638\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-043\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJoseph Randall Summerlin,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Activity in the U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026#039;s Office Recent Sentencings \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wy\\\\/pr\\\\/activity-us-attorneys-office-recent-sentencings-3\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdb83436-b382-4a21-8318-c1848eff5f5f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Two Mescalero men pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from an unprovoked attack that left a victim with serious head injuries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on September 11, 2025, John Doe was at a residence within the exterior boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation when he was assaulted by \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EHarlyn Cody Geronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 50, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERaymond Shaun Chee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 28, both enrolled members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E struck John Doe in the head during the assault. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E also struck John Doe with his fists and a pair of rain boots and kicked him while he was on the ground. The assault caused significant contusions and a 4-centimeter scalp laceration to John Doe\\\\u2019s head and resulted in serious bodily injury.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWitnesses reported that \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who was wearing steel-toed boots, kicked John Doe in the head. After the incident, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E fled the scene.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing his arrest, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s steel-toed boots were recovered and found to contain dried blood. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E later denied assaulting John Doe, despite witness statements to the contrary.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, they face up to 10 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149931\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:04:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149861\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-265\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EHarlyn Cody Geronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERaymond Shaun Chee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from an unprovoked attack that left a victim with serious head injuries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Mescalero Men Plead Guilty to Assault\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/two-mescalero-men-plead-guilty-assault\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c5a711e-6838-4386-882b-6378b8a10a27\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWICHITA, KAN. \\\\u2013 A Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Dakota Dale McDaniel, 38, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn September 2025, as part of an investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) attempted to stop McDaniel with lights and sirens. He refused to yield and kept driving. Before losing sight of him, a trooper observed that McDaniel was wearing a black backpack. When law enforcement located McDaniel a short time later, the motorcycle and the backpack were on the ground. A trooper searched the backpack and found a bag of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a firearm among other items. McDaniel was wearing a Kansas Department of Corrections ankle monitor, and the charger for it was also in the backpack.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaboratory tests determined that the bag contained 240.23 grams of 98.2 percent pure methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDakota McDaniel can now add another prison sentence to his long resume as a career criminal,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \\\\u201cWe\\\\u2019re grateful for the exceptional teamwork among our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to keep methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs off our streets.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Kansas Highway Patrol, Sedgwick County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Butler County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153161\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kansas\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:55:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152916\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kansas man wearing ankle monitor caught with methamphetamine \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ks\\\\/pr\\\\/kansas-man-wearing-ankle-monitor-caught-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"258c0b94-32ae-4e38-9e41-68eae3466a5e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. \\\\u201cEl Gato,\\\\u201d of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States A\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.10413857
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01FxqynahweWfCTBj8SvSnzx

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases page 1", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0036

(no result)

Tool Result E0037

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":50,\"page\":1},\"executionTime\":2.3290669918060303},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJ Sav,\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/OCDETF\\u0022\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSN\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T11:41:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789141290\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:50:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789134656\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/alleged-trinitarios-gang-member-charged-drug-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"32c257b8-ef46-413e-adee-57c757cf5ef8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELEXINGTON, Ky. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA Louisville, Ky., man, Timothy Acker, 57, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAcker was previously convicted in 2018 for distributing illegal material involving minors and was a registered sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;In 2024, law enforcement investigated and identified Acker as an online user operating multiple illicit content\\u2011sharing groups on encrypted messaging platforms. In early 2025, a separate investigation by law enforcement led to the discovery of thousands of illicit images across multiple electronic devices in Acker\\u2019s possession. Some of these files corresponded to content distributed online through the earlier investigation. Acker admitted to knowingly possessing the child sexual abuse material that he obtained via the internet.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Chief Clint Aldridge, Owenton Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General\\u2019s Office, Owenton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Collaboration from Leigh Ann Roberts, Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky\\u2019s Fifteenth Judicial District, facilitated the federal adoption of the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u2013 END \\u2013\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T07:55:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789127714\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T07:47:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789127265\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edky\\/pr\\/registered-sex-offender-sentenced-possession-child-sexual-abuse-material\",\"uuid\":\"d6e43266-9032-4488-bae7-af2b9f1553d9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (\\u201cPPP\\u201d), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (\\u201cSBA\\u201d), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (\\u201cCPEC\\u201d).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (\\u201cEIDL\\u201d) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris\\u2019s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in \\u201ccost of goods sold\\u201d (i.e. payroll).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHowever, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend\\u2019s business.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T16:39:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789159152\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T16:28:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789158494\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edpa\\/pr\\/new-jersey-woman-who-defrauded-pandemic-relief-program-more-half-million-dollars\",\"uuid\":\"3c48e755-8b3a-4531-a731-e56c4ce7cce5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\u201cJoonko\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\u201cInvestor-1\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789143928\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789143792\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-256\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\u201cJoonko\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\u2019s revenue.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a\\/k\\/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a\\/k\\/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McCurtain County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Choctaw County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. \\u0026nbsp;Clark will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:15:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789161349\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:07:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789160857\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a\\/k\\/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a\\/k\\/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"McCurtain County Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearms And Ammunition\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/mccurtain-county-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearms-and-ammunition\",\"uuid\":\"398b247c-60ab-4b93-b752-c953c84f4af8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOVINGTON, Ky. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA Cincinnati man, Juan Wesley McKenzie, Jr., 25, was sentenced to 300 months in prison on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, McKenzie supplied fentanyl pills to Andrew Rossi, who then distributed portions of those pills to Steffany Keene. Keene subsequently sold several pills to a victim, who consumed them and died from fentanyl toxicity.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing the death, investigators used the victim\\u2019s cellphone to arrange controlled purchases that led to the arrests of Keene and Rossi on February 13, 2024. Both individuals admitted their roles in the distribution chain and confirmed the defendant as their supplier. Laboratory analysis verified that the seized pills contained fentanyl, and an autopsy confirmed fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMcKenzie also has a prior conviction for trafficking a fentanyl\\u2011related compound. In 2025, while jailed, the defendant directed an associate to alter or destroy seized cellphones to impede the ongoing federal investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter previously pleading guilty to distribution and possession of a fentanyl resulting in death, Rossi received 150 months in prison in July 2026, and Keene received 144 months in prison in June 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and; Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u2013 END \\u2013\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:59:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789163951\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T17:57:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789163869\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Cincinnati Man Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution leading to Overdose Death\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edky\\/pr\\/cincinnati-man-sentenced-fentanyl-distribution-leading-overdose-death\",\"uuid\":\"fb55cde8-1296-400d-94a5-212a41879b5d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\u0022\\u003EIn April 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\u0022\\u003Ein May 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153560\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789153422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789128000\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\",\"uuid\":\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789048448\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:19:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789046373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-2-years-federal-prison-identity-theft-and-passport-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"650f85a3-d253-4238-bc6e-06b781dad42d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on December 19, 2024, BPD officers arrived at a building to assist BCPD detectives with executing an arrest warrant on Toliver. The warrant was in connection with a November 2024 shooting.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBCPD detectives located Toliver sitting in the driver\\u2019s seat of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Toliver out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest. As law enforcement searched Toliver, officers discovered oxycodone, cocaine base, and cocaine on him.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter towing the vehicle to BCPD Headquarters, law enforcement uncovered a loaded handgun with seven live rounds of ammunition under the driver\\u2019s seat. Toliver is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions. Additionally, investigators found $3,604.17, along with a large amount of Toliver\\u2019s clothing in the vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BCPD, and BPD for their work in the investigation.\\u0026nbsp; Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:31:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789165884\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:06:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070769\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/maryland-felon-sentenced-illegal-firearm-possession-hstf-case\",\"uuid\":\"dc3d302b-0a29-48eb-ac72-65b5354d06b4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\u2013 An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins\\u2019s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins\\u2019s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:33:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072382\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:32:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdnc\\/pr\\/felon-sentenced-prison-illegally-possessing-multiple-firearms-and-violating-supervised\",\"uuid\":\"88a1ab96-5381-4866-896e-5b479658f090\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 A convicted felon from St. Louis on Thursday admitted being caught in a stolen car with two shotguns.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaurice Brown Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On April 12, 2026, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers learned that a recently stolen Audi A4 was spotted driving in St. Louis. After following the car, Brown was seen by officers walking away from the car and a local resident identified him as the driver. Brown had an active warrant and was on probation at the time. When officers searched Brown, they found the keys to the car in his pocket. In the car, they found two shotguns. As a felon, Brown is barred from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Freedlund is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:14:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071249\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:11:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071075\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMaurice Brown Jr. was driving a recently stolen Audi A4 and had two shotguns in the car.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"St. Louis Felon Admits Being Caught in Stolen Car with Two Shotguns\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/st-louis-felon-admits-being-caught-stolen-car-two-shotguns\",\"uuid\":\"23742ee6-c4b6-4dbc-837a-75e50c59fd24\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ELAS VEGAS \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada\\u2019s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis week\\u0027s sweeping indictments send a clear message: if you flood our streets with illegal guns or use a firearm to terrorize our neighborhoods, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of federal law,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\u201cOur office, alongside our dedicated local and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to dismantle the networks driving gun violence and bring peace back to our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis week, federal firearms enforcement efforts in the District of Nevada resulted in the sentencing of an individual involved in the unlawful purchase of firearms and separate federal indictments charging four individuals prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJerion Ballott\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was sentenced today to three years\\u2019 probation for providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm at a Federal Firearms Licensee in Las Vegas. Between May 2020 and March 2022, he aided his co-defendant in purchasing 18 firearms that were later resold to others \\u2013 some of those firearms ended up in the hands of criminals. He has a prior domestic violence conviction, and he is prohibited by law from possessing firearms. The government recommended 18 months\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition, a federal grand jury returned separate indictments this week charging three individuals with prior felony convictions and one individual who is unlawfully in the United States with illegally possessing firearms. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to allegations made in the separate indictments:\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;On or about August 13, 2026, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharles Richard Cleary, Jr. \\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epossessed a semi-automatic .32 caliber pistol, a .30-06 Springfield caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun, after he had previously been convicted of murder in Indiana. Cleary Jr. is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;On or about August 27, 2026, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EVadim Merkulov\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, who is an illegal alien in the United States, possessed multiple firearms including a 9x18mm Makarov firearm, a .45 caliber firearm, and a 5.56 caliber firearm. Merkulov is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;On or about June 9, 2026, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERondall Talley\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E possessed a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of carjacking, interference with commerce by robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in Nevada. Talley was on federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense. Talley is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;On or about February 20, 2026, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EWesley Alan Wilson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of grand larceny auto, possession of forged instrument, two counts of possession of stolen vehicle, and attempt possession of stolen vehicle, all in Clark County, Nevada. Wilson is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese cases are being investigated by the ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Melinda Brewer, Steven Rose, Joseph Sciscento, and Melanee Smith are prosecuting these cases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:26:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789082791\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:16:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789082209\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada\\u2019s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Firearms Offenses Weekly Roundup\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/federal-firearms-offenses-weekly-roundup\",\"uuid\":\"332dc624-4173-4793-8726-975851bee839\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u201cKnowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol\\u2011whipping her,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\u201cThis defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as \\u201cboot.\\u201d A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson M\\u0026amp;P pistol under a car.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. \\u0026nbsp;During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight\\u2019s pants.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\u2013 Washington Field Division.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460911\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/jknight_1.png?itok=Ho1RXseT\\u0022 width=\\u0022390\\u0022 height=\\u0022372\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Suspect standing in front of library\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460916\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/jknight_2.png?itok=dVfmGU-F\\u0022 width=\\u0022506\\u0022 height=\\u0022378\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;The loaded 9mm Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson M\\u0026amp;P pistol found in Knight\\u2019s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460921\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/jknight_3.png?itok=CCRxsnuD\\u0022 width=\\u0022418\\u0022 height=\\u0022434\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Black pistol and clip laying on table\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EThe 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr21\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067497\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066703\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460911\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"a41a8c09-34a8-4f3c-aec3-e79de1c1e405\"},\"alt\":\"Suspect standing in front of library\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460916\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"aeda6d44-6423-47e9-b74b-6b22370001cd\"},\"alt\":\"Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460921\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"8957d818-1095-461f-88e1-57ce50e37567\"},\"alt\":\"Black pistol and clip laying on table\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/repeat-felon-sentenced-10-years-dc-after-shooting-two-women-separate-attacks-months\",\"uuid\":\"b9c0e10b-5957-4a8b-9d7f-a74c4aa89716\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA \\u2013 A Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJustin Michael Hoover,\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle. In total, investigators recovered more than 61 grams of methamphetamine. Hoover\\u2019s criminal history includes earlier offenses involving drugs, firearms, domestic battery, and various driving violations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:17:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789064258\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b2a654da-3abd-4317-aec0-c05c193094cf\",\"name\":\"USAO - West Virginia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:14:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789064091\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJustin Michael Hoover, 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Career Criminal Sentenced for Drug Distribution\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndwv\\/pr\\/career-criminal-sentenced-drug-distribution\",\"uuid\":\"e99ec58a-7fd0-4cbb-bcbc-d2de615af503\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Andrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe verdict follows a trial that occurred after the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed Patrick\\u2019s 2023 conviction for the same armed carjacking and remanded the case for a new trial. The Honorable Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. \\u202f\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, on September 22, 2022, the victim took her 2005 blue Chevy Suburban to the Good Hope Road gas station in Washington, DC. The defendant, dressed in a black jacket with white stripes and a hoodie, approached the victim and demanded her car keys while holding her at gunpoint. Patrick pushed her up against her own vehicle, took her keys, and drove away in the victim\\u2019s car. Investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department resulted in the arrest of the defendant within hours of the carjacking. He has been in custody since that time.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Monisha H. Rao.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2022 CF3 005665\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:52:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066324\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:40:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065605\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAndrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds District Man Guilty of 2022 Armed Carjacking \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-district-man-guilty-2022-armed-carjacking\",\"uuid\":\"36da8048-e56b-496a-b1c9-746a26da36fa\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried the victim\\u2019s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal\\u2019s direction.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 2, 2022, Madrigal coaxed Murillo\\u2019s wife, Maira Sofia Hernandez, 33, to come to the ranch by claiming her husband was waiting for her there and wanted to see her. Hernandez did not know that only a few days earlier, Madrigal and his co-conspirators had shot, killed and buried her husband at the same ranch. Madrigal picked Hernandez up in Yakima and drove her 45 minutes into the mountains to the ranch.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhen the visibly pregnant Hernandez arrived at the ranch, the defendant parked and they got out of his car. Soon thereafter, Madrigal\\u2019s co-conspirators shot her multiple times in the head and body. U.S. District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw described Hernandez\\u2019s drive to the ranch as \\u201ca one-way ticket for her.\\u201d Madrigal\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried Hernandez in a separate deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch, again at Madrigal\\u2019s direction. The child died in utero when Hernandez was shot, killed and buried.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMadrigal also admitted in his plea agreement that the murders were committed while he was engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Court testimony revealed that Murillo and Hernandez had worked with Madrigal in the drug trafficking organization but had just informed Madrigal that they planned to cooperate with law enforcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the sentencing, the judge repeatedly described the murders as \\u201chorrific.\\u201d \\u201cSo horrific that they demand a significant sentence.\\u201d Although the Court agreed that Madrigal had a \\u201chorrible childhood\\u201d and needed money to assist his sisters with migrating from Mexico to the United States, \\u201cthe answer is not to do this.\\u201d Madrigal\\u2019s motivation to murder these victims was \\u201cwrong on every possible level.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMadrigal had months to think about his actions, the Court stated, and yet he remained in the drug trafficking business. The Court added that Madrigal and his co-conspirators \\u201cexecuted\\u201d Murillo, Hernandez and the fetus, so he could \\u201cstay in control\\u201d and continue to run his drug business. And Madrigal clearly profited from his involvement in drug dealing, driving fancy cars, using drugs, and overseeing a ranch in Yakima with a virtual arsenal of weapons. The Court noted that the murders were particularly troubling because Madrigal was involved in killing cooperating witnesses. The Court concluded by noting, \\u201cIt is very clear, the enormity of the stress and damage you have caused to the victims\\u2019 families.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhile here illegally, Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta chose a life of violence and greed,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, \\u201cThe victims\\u2019 families deserved this strong measure of justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s 40-year sentence holds Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta accountable for the brutal murders of Cesar Murillo, Maira Hernandez, and their unborn child,\\u201d said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. \\u201cThis case reflects the extraordinary persistence of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners to combat violent drug cartels, provide justice for victims and their families, and protect our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court filings, the investigation originated with the seizure of drugs from vehicles using San Diego area ports of entry between August and October of 2021. The organization built sophisticated compartments in high-end stolen vehicles to smuggle drugs through the ports of entry into the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta was a leader in the criminal enterprise. He coordinated the movements of the drug mules importing the drugs and worked to get the drugs up to Yakima for dispersal to other parts of the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta also coordinated the movement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash back to the drug trafficking organization in Mexico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBy August of 2022, the investigation led agents from San Diego up to Yakima. HSI Agents interviewed Murillo and Hernandez in August 2022. Within days of those interviews, Murillo and Hernandez were murdered and their bodies were buried in deep graves in the high desert. Court filings describe how these charges follow an exhaustive, year-long investigation that employed geophysicists, ground penetrating radar, aircraft, laser imaging, chemical testing of the soil, numerous cadaver dogs, and other law enforcement techniques to search for the victims\\u2019 remains. HSI Special Agents successfully recovered the remains on September 13, 2023, aided by a Washington State Police Crime Scene Investigations team.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the investigation agents seized methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and multiple firearms \\u2014 including a machine gun \\u2014 from Madrigal\\u2019s drug trafficking organization.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of California.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Case Number 23cr1684-DMS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBenjamin Madrigal-Birrueta\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Age: 25\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Yakima, WA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECount 4\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Murder of Cesar Armando Murillo in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy \\u2013 Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e)\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECount 5\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Murder of Maira Sophia Hernandez in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy \\u2013 Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e)\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECount 9\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Causing the Death of a Child in Utero \\u2013 Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1841 and 1111\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCIES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDrug Enforcement Administration\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWashington State Police\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECalifornia Highway Patrol\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EYakima Police Department\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETulare County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVisalia Police Department\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFresno Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFresno Police Department\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T23:34:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789097661\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:55:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789084539\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Madrigal\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute. \\u0026nbsp;According to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried the victim\\u2019s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal\\u2019s direction.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Role in the Murders of a Couple and their Unborn Child During a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-40-years-role-murders-couple-and-their-unborn-child-during-drug\",\"uuid\":\"81d42ad7-8e40-4889-8b73-d07a03a29938\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ERIVERSIDE, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames Brass, 47, a.k.a. \\u201cLord,\\u201d of Victorville, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlso charged in the two-count indictment are two petition circulators who worked for Brass: Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAll three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price are charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\u201cThey allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row\\u2019s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is imperative that Americans have confidence in our voting system and election infrastructure\\u201d said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\u201cThe scheme outlined in today\\u2019s indictment sought to undermine an essential pillar of our democracy and cause an undue burden on taxpayers. We will remain vigilant in detecting those trying to weaken our political process and we will aggressively investigate any allegations of voter fraud or other election crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, California\\u2019s constitution contains a process for direct democracy in which state voters can bypass the California State Legislature and enact laws or constitutional amendments directly through the ballot initiative process.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo qualify an initiative for inclusion on a ballot in 2026, an initiative\\u2019s proponent was required to submit 546,651 signatures to place a proposed statute on the ballot, and 874,641 signatures to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. An initiative\\u2019s proponent had up to 180 days to gather these signatures and needed to submit them no later than 130 days before the date of an election.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGiven the large number of signatures required in such a short period of time, proponents of initiatives typically hired petition management companies to gather the signatures. These companies charge significant fees and set a price for each signature gathered, contracting with outside individuals to collect signatures.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, Brass managed a team of signature collectors and collected signatures himself while Price and Herron were signature collectors who worked for Brass. From February 2026 to August 2026, the defendants used a database to identify registered California voters.\\u0026nbsp;On Skid Row, Brass and Price handed out these voters\\u2019 stolen identities and paid petition signers to copy the voters\\u2019 personal information onto ballot initiative petitions and fraudulently sign the petitions in those voters\\u2019 names.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the petitions were signed, Brass and Herron signed declarations at the bottom of the petitions, falsely declaring under penalty of perjury that they personally witnessed the named registered voters sign the petitions and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, \\u201cthe genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBrass and Herron then turned in the bogus petitions to several petition coordinators, knowing the false representations regarding the signatures\\u2019 authenticity would result in false and fraudulent signatures being counted in connection with the effort to place the initiative at issue on the ballot.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBrass further knew the false representations about the signatures\\u2019 authenticity would result in payments to him from a petition management company.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Brass received approximately $41,600 from coordinators working with one such petition management company.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe F [...truncated 13350 characters...] sessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 An Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E37, living in San Antonio, Texas,\\u0026nbsp;to 30 months\\u2019 imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Chagamreddy was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cElder fraud schemes are despicable, calculated attacks that prey on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community. In this case, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa used fear to deceive and extort a Vietnam veteran who served our country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. \\u201cBecause the victim came forward, and thanks to law enforcement\\u2019s coordinated, swift response and the efforts of AUSAs Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster, Chagamreddy was brought to justice. Our office remains committed to protecting older Americans from predatory fraud and ensuring foreign scammers who take advantage of their country\\u2019s immigration system are held fully accountable for their crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2025, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with \\u201cMicrosoft,\\u201d the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. Someone then contacted the victim and identified themselves as a federal officer, providing a false badge number.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being \\u201cinvestigated,\\u201d and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.\\u0026nbsp;The elderly victim was transferred to the \\u201cTreasury Department\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;and told he needed to transfer his money into gold and that an \\u201cofficer\\u201d would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed over the package.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA few days later, the fake federal officer contacted the victim again and demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. With the victim\\u0027s cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup. When Chagamreddy arrived at the victim\\u2019s home at the scheduled time and date, he was arrested. Evidence presented to the jury showed that he had $500 in cash, a cell phone, and 23 ounces of gold in\\u0026nbsp;the vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn agent testified about the messaging found on Chagamreddy\\u2019s phone. The exhibits shown to the jury clearly show he worked with another individual to defraud numerous victims within 48 hours. The agent testified that Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he picked up gold from an 87-year-old woman. Trial evidence showed that after delivering the gold to a different co-conspirator, Chagamreddy sent a photo of a dollar bill with \\u201c29 oz rec 3000 paid\\u201d written on it.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe messages indicate that the following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin, Texas, to Andale, Kansas, starting at 1:21 am. Throughout the drive, Chagamreddy would provide status updates, including screenshots of his location and fuel levels, to the co-conspirator. Upon arrival, Chagamreddy booked a hotel room to rest for a few hours and then drove to the destination he had been directed to. The co-conspirator described the 75-year-old woman from whom Chagamreddy would be picking up gold. Chagamreddy then sent the co-conspirator a photo of a sealed box with a message that read, \\u201c23 Oz.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter completing that trip, the agent testified that the messaging showed that Chagamreddy then drove to Delaware County, Oklahoma. The co-conspirator described the 79-year-old that he would be getting gold from and provided a photo of the victim, who was visibly wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt. The agent explained that the victim lived alone on a rural road and that Chagamreddy was actively providing photos, showing that he was lost. After finding the location, Chagamreddy provided one photo confirming that he arrived and was detained shortly after by Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s deputies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2025, the Department of Justice\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/media\\/1416301\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Ereported\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;to Congress that it took more than 280 enforcement actions against more than 600 defendants, many of whom were in the United States illegally or were extradited to be prosecuted. Collectively, the defendants attempted to steal, or stole, over $2.3 billion from more than one million Americans. The Department pursued more than 40 types of elder fraud. Investment fraud ranked number one, with more than $1.8 billion in losses, followed by fraudulent tech support at $982 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Elder Justice Initiative\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/about-elder-abuse\\u0022\\u003Ewebsite\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;provides several scenarios and red flags to help educate yourself and loved ones about the types of abuse, including financial exploitation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDelaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Attorney General\\u2019s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETo find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)\\u0026nbsp;10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday \\u2013 Friday. Elder Justice Neighborhood Resources for Oklahoma are available\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/support\\/resources-neighborhood?field_state=OK\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:41:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072908\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:34:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072468\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Indian Citizen in the United States on Student Visa Sentenced for Defrauding a Vietnam Veteran\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\",\"name\":\"Elder Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/indian-citizen-united-states-student-visa-sentenced-defrauding-vietnam-veteran\",\"uuid\":\"ba0d8869-9d09-4e0d-b49a-7e9cb1eb7e95\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cOur Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, \\u201cdead serious,\\u201d and demanded \\u201cloose bills\\u201d in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10.\\u0026nbsp; The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee.\\u0026nbsp; In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later.\\u0026nbsp; After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s General Crimes Section.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPIERRE LEE\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge: 43\\u003Cbr\\u003EZebulon, NC\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067479\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067028\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-found-guilty-using-firearm-during-brooklyn-attempted-bank-robbery\",\"uuid\":\"16b23235-1254-4110-b793-7eea839c1c66\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A member of the Manchester Chapter of the Trinitarios has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for racketeering charges, including his participation in the attempted murder of rival gang members.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSopita,\\u201d 28, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. After serving the prison sentence, Luis Enrique Santana will be deported to the Dominican Republic. \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/leader-manchester-chapter-trinitarios-pleads-guilty-racketeering-conspiracy\\u0022\\u003EIn June 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, Santana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. Luis Jeffrey Santana was arrested and charged in February 2025.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana was also one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting in Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang\\u2019s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that would be visited upon members who betray the gang.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EDuring the plea hearing in June 2026, Luis Jeffrey Santana admitted to his membership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Luis Jeffrey Santana wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EIn \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\u0022\\u003EFebruary 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/twenty-six-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-related-five-murders-after\\u0022\\u003EJune 9, 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in five additional murders in Essex County since 2017, bringing the total of federally charged murders to 11, and the total number of federally charged defendants to 56.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler; Methuen Police Acting Chief Jamie Moore, and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/OCDETF\\u0022\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSN\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 style=\\u0022width:661px;\\u0022 border=\\u00220\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:66px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E#\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:110px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFIRST NAME\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd 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Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01FxqynahweWfCTBj8SvSnzx, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.271

Inner payload

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tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.272

Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.273

Inner payload

{
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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":1},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.3290669918060303},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJ Sav,\\\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:41:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789141290\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:50:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134656\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/alleged-trinitarios-gang-member-charged-drug-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32c257b8-ef46-413e-adee-57c757cf5ef8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELEXINGTON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Louisville, Ky., man, Timothy Acker, 57, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAcker was previously convicted in 2018 for distributing illegal material involving minors and was a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;In 2024, law enforcement investigated and identified Acker as an online user operating multiple illicit content\\\\u2011sharing groups on encrypted messaging platforms. In early 2025, a separate investigation by law enforcement led to the discovery of thousands of illicit images across multiple electronic devices in Acker\\\\u2019s possession. Some of these files corresponded to content distributed online through the earlier investigation. Acker admitted to knowingly possessing the child sexual abuse material that he obtained via the internet.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Chief Clint Aldridge, Owenton Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office, Owenton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Collaboration from Leigh Ann Roberts, Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky\\\\u2019s Fifteenth Judicial District, facilitated the federal adoption of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:55:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127714\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:47:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127265\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-sentenced-possession-child-sexual-abuse-material\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d6e43266-9032-4488-bae7-af2b9f1553d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\\\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (\\\\u201cPPP\\\\u201d), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (\\\\u201cSBA\\\\u201d), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (\\\\u201cCPEC\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (\\\\u201cEIDL\\\\u201d) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris\\\\u2019s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in \\\\u201ccost of goods sold\\\\u201d (i.e. payroll).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHowever, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend\\\\u2019s business.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:39:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789159152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:28:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789158494\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edpa\\\\/pr\\\\/new-jersey-woman-who-defrauded-pandemic-relief-program-more-half-million-dollars\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c48e755-8b3a-4531-a731-e56c4ce7cce5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\\\u201cInvestor-1\\\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143928\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143792\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-256\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McCurtain County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Choctaw County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. \\\\u0026nbsp;Clark will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:15:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161349\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:07:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789160857\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"McCurtain County Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearms And Ammunition\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/mccurtain-county-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearms-and-ammunition\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"398b247c-60ab-4b93-b752-c953c84f4af8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOVINGTON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Cincinnati man, Juan Wesley McKenzie, Jr., 25, was sentenced to 300 months in prison on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, McKenzie supplied fentanyl pills to Andrew Rossi, who then distributed portions of those pills to Steffany Keene. Keene subsequently sold several pills to a victim, who consumed them and died from fentanyl toxicity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing the death, investigators used the victim\\\\u2019s cellphone to arrange controlled purchases that led to the arrests of Keene and Rossi on February 13, 2024. Both individuals admitted their roles in the distribution chain and confirmed the defendant as their supplier. Laboratory analysis verified that the seized pills contained fentanyl, and an autopsy confirmed fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcKenzie also has a prior conviction for trafficking a fentanyl\\\\u2011related compound. In 2025, while jailed, the defendant directed an associate to alter or destroy seized cellphones to impede the ongoing federal investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter previously pleading guilty to distribution and possession of a fentanyl resulting in death, Rossi received 150 months in prison in July 2026, and Keene received 144 months in prison in June 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and; Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:59:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789163951\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:57:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789163869\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Cincinnati Man Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution leading to Overdose Death\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/cincinnati-man-sentenced-fentanyl-distribution-leading-overdose-death\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fb55cde8-1296-400d-94a5-212a41879b5d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein May 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153560\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\\\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\\\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCampos Reyes\\\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\\\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\\\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECampos\\\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECampos\\\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789053399\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789052991\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdal\\\\/pr\\\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789048448\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Carolina\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T09:19:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789046373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sc\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-2-years-federal-prison-identity-theft-and-passport-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"650f85a3-d253-4238-bc6e-06b781dad42d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on December 19, 2024, BPD officers arrived at a building to assist BCPD detectives with executing an arrest warrant on Toliver. The warrant was in connection with a November 2024 shooting.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBCPD detectives located Toliver sitting in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Toliver out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest. As law enforcement searched Toliver, officers discovered oxycodone, cocaine base, and cocaine on him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter towing the vehicle to BCPD Headquarters, law enforcement uncovered a loaded handgun with seven live rounds of ammunition under the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Toliver is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions. Additionally, investigators found $3,604.17, along with a large amount of Toliver\\\\u2019s clothing in the vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BCPD, and BPD for their work in the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T18:31:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789165884\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:06:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789070769\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-felon-sentenced-illegal-firearm-possession-hstf-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dc3d302b-0a29-48eb-ac72-65b5354d06b4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\\\u2013 An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins\\\\u2019s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins\\\\u2019s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:33:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072382\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:32:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072330\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-sentenced-prison-illegally-possessing-multiple-firearms-and-violating-supervised\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"88a1ab96-5381-4866-896e-5b479658f090\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 A convicted felon from St. Louis on Thursday admitted being caught in a stolen car with two shotguns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaurice Brown Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On April 12, 2026, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers learned that a recently stolen Audi A4 was spotted driving in St. Louis. After following the car, Brown was seen by officers walking away from the car and a local resident identified him as the driver. Brown had an active warrant and was on probation at the time. When officers searched Brown, they found the keys to the car in his pocket. In the car, they found two shotguns. As a felon, Brown is barred from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Freedlund is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:14:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071249\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:11:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071075\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaurice Brown Jr. was driving a recently stolen Audi A4 and had two shotguns in the car.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"St. Louis Felon Admits Being Caught in Stolen Car with Two Shotguns\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/st-louis-felon-admits-being-caught-stolen-car-two-shotguns\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"23742ee6-c4b6-4dbc-837a-75e50c59fd24\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada\\\\u2019s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis week\\\\u0027s sweeping indictments send a clear message: if you flood our streets with illegal guns or use a firearm to terrorize our neighborhoods, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of federal law,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cOur office, alongside our dedicated local and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to dismantle the networks driving gun violence and bring peace back to our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis week, federal firearms enforcement efforts in the District of Nevada resulted in the sentencing of an individual involved in the unlawful purchase of firearms and separate federal indictments charging four individuals prohibited from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJerion Ballott\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was sentenced today to three years\\\\u2019 probation for providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm at a Federal Firearms Licensee in Las Vegas. Between May 2020 and March 2022, he aided his co-defendant in purchasing 18 firearms that were later resold to others \\\\u2013 some of those firearms ended up in the hands of criminals. He has a prior domestic violence conviction, and he is prohibited by law from possessing firearms. The government recommended 18 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition, a federal grand jury returned separate indictments this week charging three individuals with prior felony convictions and one individual who is unlawfully in the United States with illegally possessing firearms. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to allegations made in the separate indictments:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about August 13, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharles Richard Cleary, Jr. \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epossessed a semi-automatic .32 caliber pistol, a .30-06 Springfield caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun, after he had previously been convicted of murder in Indiana. Cleary Jr. is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about August 27, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EVadim Merkulov\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who is an illegal alien in the United States, possessed multiple firearms including a 9x18mm Makarov firearm, a .45 caliber firearm, and a 5.56 caliber firearm. Merkulov is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about June 9, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERondall Talley\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of carjacking, interference with commerce by robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in Nevada. Talley was on federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense. Talley is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about February 20, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EWesley Alan Wilson\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of grand larceny auto, possession of forged instrument, two counts of possession of stolen vehicle, and attempt possession of stolen vehicle, all in Clark County, Nevada. Wilson is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese cases are being investigated by the ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Melinda Brewer, Steven Rose, Joseph Sciscento, and Melanee Smith are prosecuting these cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T19:26:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789082791\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T19:16:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789082209\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada\\\\u2019s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Firearms Offenses Weekly Roundup\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-firearms-offenses-weekly-roundup\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"332dc624-4173-4793-8726-975851bee839\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cKnowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol\\\\u2011whipping her,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\\\u201cThis defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as \\\\u201cboot.\\\\u201d A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol under a car.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. \\\\u0026nbsp;During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight\\\\u2019s pants.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\\\u2013 Washington Field Division.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460911\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_1.png?itok=Ho1RXseT\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022390\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022372\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Suspect standing in front of library\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460916\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_2.png?itok=dVfmGU-F\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022506\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022378\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;The loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol found in Knight\\\\u2019s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460921\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_3.png?itok=CCRxsnuD\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022418\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022434\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EThe 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr21\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067497\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066703\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460911\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a41a8c09-34a8-4f3c-aec3-e79de1c1e405\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Suspect standing in front of library\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460916\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aeda6d44-6423-47e9-b74b-6b22370001cd\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460921\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8957d818-1095-461f-88e1-57ce50e37567\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/repeat-felon-sentenced-10-years-dc-after-shooting-two-women-separate-attacks-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b9c0e10b-5957-4a8b-9d7f-a74c4aa89716\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA \\\\u2013 A Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJustin Michael Hoover,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle. In total, investigators recovered more than 61 grams of methamphetamine. Hoover\\\\u2019s criminal history includes earlier offenses involving drugs, firearms, domestic battery, and various driving violations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:17:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789064258\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2a654da-3abd-4317-aec0-c05c193094cf\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:14:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789064091\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJustin Michael Hoover, 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Career Criminal Sentenced for Drug Distribution\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/pr\\\\/career-criminal-sentenced-drug-distribution\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e99ec58a-7fd0-4cbb-bcbc-d2de615af503\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Andrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe verdict follows a trial that occurred after the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed Patrick\\\\u2019s 2023 conviction for the same armed carjacking and remanded the case for a new trial. The Honorable Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. \\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the government\\\\u2019s evidence, on September 22, 2022, the victim took her 2005 blue Chevy Suburban to the Good Hope Road gas station in Washington, DC. The defendant, dressed in a black jacket with white stripes and a hoodie, approached the victim and demanded her car keys while holding her at gunpoint. Patrick pushed her up against her own vehicle, took her keys, and drove away in the victim\\\\u2019s car. Investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department resulted in the arrest of the defendant within hours of the carjacking. He has been in custody since that time.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Monisha H. Rao.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E2022 CF3 005665\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:52:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066324\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:40:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789065605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jury Finds District Man Guilty of 2022 Armed Carjacking \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-finds-district-man-guilty-2022-armed-carjacking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"36da8048-e56b-496a-b1c9-746a26da36fa\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried the victim\\\\u2019s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal\\\\u2019s direction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2022, Madrigal coaxed Murillo\\\\u2019s wife, Maira Sofia Hernandez, 33, to come to the ranch by claiming her husband was waiting for her there and wanted to see her. Hernandez did not know that only a few days earlier, Madrigal and his co-conspirators had shot, killed and buried her husband at the same ranch. Madrigal picked Hernandez up in Yakima and drove her 45 minutes into the mountains to the ranch.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen the visibly pregnant Hernandez arrived at the ranch, the defendant parked and they got out of his car. Soon thereafter, Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators shot her multiple times in the head and body. U.S. District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw described Hernandez\\\\u2019s drive to the ranch as \\\\u201ca one-way ticket for her.\\\\u201d Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried Hernandez in a separate deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch, again at Madrigal\\\\u2019s direction. The child died in utero when Hernandez was shot, killed and buried.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMadrigal also admitted in his plea agreement that the murders were committed while he was engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Court testimony revealed that Murillo and Hernandez had worked with Madrigal in the drug trafficking organization but had just informed Madrigal that they planned to cooperate with law enforcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the sentencing, the judge repeatedly described the murders as \\\\u201chorrific.\\\\u201d \\\\u201cSo horrific that they demand a significant sentence.\\\\u201d Although the Court agreed that Madrigal had a \\\\u201chorrible childhood\\\\u201d and needed money to assist his sisters with migrating from Mexico to the United States, \\\\u201cthe answer is not to do this.\\\\u201d Madrigal\\\\u2019s motivation to murder these victims was \\\\u201cwrong on every possible level.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMadrigal had months to think about his actions, the Court stated, and yet he remained in the drug trafficking business. The Court added that Madrigal and his co-conspirators \\\\u201cexecuted\\\\u201d Murillo, Hernandez and the fetus, so he could \\\\u201cstay in control\\\\u201d and continue to run his drug business. And Madrigal clearly profited from his involvement in drug dealing, driving fancy cars, using drugs, and overseeing a ranch in Yakima with a virtual arsenal of weapons. The Court noted that the murders were particularly troubling because Madrigal was involved in killing cooperating witnesses. The Court concluded by noting, \\\\u201cIt is very clear, the enormity of the stress and damage you have caused to the victims\\\\u2019 families.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhile here illegally, Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta chose a life of violence and greed,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, \\\\u201cThe victims\\\\u2019 families deserved this strong measure of justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s 40-year sentence holds Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta accountable for the brutal murders of Cesar Murillo, Maira Hernandez, and their unborn child,\\\\u201d said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. \\\\u201cThis case reflects the extraordinary persistence of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners to combat violent drug cartels, provide justice for victims and their families, and protect our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court filings, the investigation originated with the seizure of drugs from vehicles using San Diego area ports of entry between August and October of 2021. The organization built sophisticated compartments in high-end stolen vehicles to smuggle drugs through the ports of entry into the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta was a leader in the criminal enterprise. He coordinated the movements of the drug mules importing the drugs and worked to get the drugs up to Yakima for dispersal to other parts of the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta also coordinated the movement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash back to the drug trafficking organization in Mexico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBy August of 2022, the investigation led agents from San Diego up to Yakima. HSI Agents interviewed Murillo and Hernandez in August 2022. Within days of those interviews, Murillo and Hernandez were murdered and their bodies were buried in deep graves in the high desert. Court filings describe how these charges follow an exhaustive, year-long investigation that employed geophysicists, ground penetrating radar, aircraft, laser imaging, chemical testing of the soil, numerous cadaver dogs, and other law enforcement techniques to search for the victims\\\\u2019 remains. HSI Special Agents successfully recovered the remains on September 13, 2023, aided by a Washington State Police Crime Scene Investigations team.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation agents seized methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and multiple firearms \\\\u2014 including a machine gun \\\\u2014 from Madrigal\\\\u2019s drug trafficking organization.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of California.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EDEFENDANT\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;Case Number 23cr1684-DMS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBenjamin Madrigal-Birrueta\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 25\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Yakima, WA\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECount 4\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Murder of Cesar Armando Murillo in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy \\\\u2013 Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECount 5\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Murder of Maira Sophia Hernandez in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy \\\\u2013 Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECount 9\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Causing the Death of a Child in Utero \\\\u2013 Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1841 and 1111\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCIES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDrug Enforcement Administration\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWashington State Police\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECalifornia Highway Patrol\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYakima Police Department\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETulare County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVisalia Police Department\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFresno Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFresno Police Department\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T23:34:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789097661\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T19:55:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789084539\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"CAS26-0910-Madrigal\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried the victim\\\\u2019s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal\\\\u2019s direction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Role in the Murders of a Couple and their Unborn Child During a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdca\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-40-years-role-murders-couple-and-their-unborn-child-during-drug\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"81d42ad7-8e40-4889-8b73-d07a03a29938\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ERIVERSIDE, California\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames Brass, 47, a.k.a. \\\\u201cLord,\\\\u201d of Victorville, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlso charged in the two-count indictment are two petition circulators who worked for Brass: Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAll three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price are charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\\\u201cThey allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row\\\\u2019s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is imperative that Americans have confidence in our voting system and election infrastructure\\\\u201d said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cThe scheme outlined in today\\\\u2019s indictment sought to undermine an essential pillar of our democracy and cause an undue burden on taxpayers. We will remain vigilant in detecting those trying to weaken our political process and we will aggressively investigate any allegations of voter fraud or other election crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, California\\\\u2019s constitution contains a process for direct democracy in which state voters can bypass the California State Legislature and enact laws or constitutional amendments directly through the ballot initiative process.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo qualify an initiative for inclusion on a ballot in 2026, an initiative\\\\u2019s proponent was required to submit 546,651 signatures to place a proposed statute on the ballot, and 874,641 signatures to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. An initiative\\\\u2019s proponent had up to 180 days to gather these signatures and needed to submit them no later than 130 days before the date of an election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGiven the large number of signatures required in such a short period of time, proponents of initiatives typically hired petition management companies to gather the signatures. These companies charge significant fees and set a price for each signature gathered, contracting with outside individuals to collect signatures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, Brass managed a team of signature collectors and collected signatures himself while Price and Herron were signature collectors who worked for Brass. From February 2026 to August 2026, the defendants used a database to identify registered California voters.\\\\u0026nbsp;On Skid Row, Brass and Price handed out these voters\\\\u2019 stolen identities and paid petition signers to copy the voters\\\\u2019 personal information onto ballot initiative petitions and fraudulently sign the petitions in those voters\\\\u2019 names.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter the petitions were signed, Brass and Herron signed declarations at the bottom of the petitions, falsely declaring under penalty of perjury that they personally witnessed the named registered voters sign the petitions and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, \\\\u201cthe genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrass and Herron then turned in the bogus petitions to several petition coordinators, knowing the false representations regarding the signatures\\\\u2019 authenticity would result in false and fraudulent signatures being counted in connection with the effort to place the initiative at issue on the ballot.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrass further knew the false representations about the signatures\\\\u2019 authenticity would result in payments to him from a petition management company.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn total, Brass received approximately $41,600 from coordinators working with one such petition management company.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe F\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nsessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\\\u2013 An Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E37, living in San Antonio, Texas,\\\\u0026nbsp;to 30 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Chagamreddy was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cElder fraud schemes are despicable, calculated attacks that prey on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community. In this case, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa used fear to deceive and extort a Vietnam veteran who served our country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. \\\\u201cBecause the victim came forward, and thanks to law enforcement\\\\u2019s coordinated, swift response and the efforts of AUSAs Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster, Chagamreddy was brought to justice. Our office remains committed to protecting older Americans from predatory fraud and ensuring foreign scammers who take advantage of their country\\\\u2019s immigration system are held fully accountable for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2025, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with \\\\u201cMicrosoft,\\\\u201d the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. Someone then contacted the victim and identified themselves as a federal officer, providing a false badge number.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being \\\\u201cinvestigated,\\\\u201d and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;The elderly victim was transferred to the \\\\u201cTreasury Department\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;and told he needed to transfer his money into gold and that an \\\\u201cofficer\\\\u201d would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed over the package.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA few days later, the fake federal officer contacted the victim again and demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. With the victim\\\\u0027s cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup. When Chagamreddy arrived at the victim\\\\u2019s home at the scheduled time and date, he was arrested. Evidence presented to the jury showed that he had $500 in cash, a cell phone, and 23 ounces of gold in\\\\u0026nbsp;the vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn agent testified about the messaging found on Chagamreddy\\\\u2019s phone. The exhibits shown to the jury clearly show he worked with another individual to defraud numerous victims within 48 hours. The agent testified that Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he picked up gold from an 87-year-old woman. Trial evidence showed that after delivering the gold to a different co-conspirator, Chagamreddy sent a photo of a dollar bill with \\\\u201c29 oz rec 3000 paid\\\\u201d written on it.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe messages indicate that the following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin, Texas, to Andale, Kansas, starting at 1:21 am. Throughout the drive, Chagamreddy would provide status updates, including screenshots of his location and fuel levels, to the co-conspirator. Upon arrival, Chagamreddy booked a hotel room to rest for a few hours and then drove to the destination he had been directed to. The co-conspirator described the 75-year-old woman from whom Chagamreddy would be picking up gold. Chagamreddy then sent the co-conspirator a photo of a sealed box with a message that read, \\\\u201c23 Oz.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter completing that trip, the agent testified that the messaging showed that Chagamreddy then drove to Delaware County, Oklahoma. The co-conspirator described the 79-year-old that he would be getting gold from and provided a photo of the victim, who was visibly wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt. The agent explained that the victim lived alone on a rural road and that Chagamreddy was actively providing photos, showing that he was lost. After finding the location, Chagamreddy provided one photo confirming that he arrived and was detained shortly after by Delaware County Sheriff\\\\u2019s deputies.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn 2025, the Department of Justice\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/elderjustice\\\\/media\\\\/1416301\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ereported\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;to Congress that it took more than 280 enforcement actions against more than 600 defendants, many of whom were in the United States illegally or were extradited to be prosecuted. Collectively, the defendants attempted to steal, or stole, over $2.3 billion from more than one million Americans. The Department pursued more than 40 types of elder fraud. Investment fraud ranked number one, with more than $1.8 billion in losses, followed by fraudulent tech support at $982 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Elder Justice Initiative\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/elderjustice\\\\/about-elder-abuse\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewebsite\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;provides several scenarios and red flags to help educate yourself and loved ones about the types of abuse, including financial exploitation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDelaware County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETo find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)\\\\u0026nbsp;10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday \\\\u2013 Friday. Elder Justice Neighborhood Resources for Oklahoma are available\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/elderjustice\\\\/support\\\\/resources-neighborhood?field_state=OK\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ehere\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:41:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072908\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:34:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072468\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Indian Citizen in the United States on Student Visa Sentenced for Defrauding a Vietnam Veteran\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Elder Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndok\\\\/pr\\\\/indian-citizen-united-states-student-visa-sentenced-defrauding-vietnam-veteran\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ba0d8869-9d09-4e0d-b49a-7e9cb1eb7e95\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\\\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cOur Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,\\\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp; On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, \\\\u201cdead serious,\\\\u201d and demanded \\\\u201cloose bills\\\\u201d in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10.\\\\u0026nbsp; The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee.\\\\u0026nbsp; In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later.\\\\u0026nbsp; After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s General Crimes Section.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPIERRE LEE\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge: 43\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EZebulon, NC\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067479\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067028\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\\\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/convicted-felon-found-guilty-using-firearm-during-brooklyn-attempted-bank-robbery\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"16b23235-1254-4110-b793-7eea839c1c66\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A member of the Manchester Chapter of the Trinitarios has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for racketeering charges, including his participation in the attempted murder of rival gang members.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSopita,\\\\u201d 28, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. After serving the prison sentence, Luis Enrique Santana will be deported to the Dominican Republic. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/leader-manchester-chapter-trinitarios-pleads-guilty-racketeering-conspiracy\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn June 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Santana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. Luis Jeffrey Santana was arrested and charged in February 2025.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThe Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana was also one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting in Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang\\\\u2019s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that would be visited upon members who betray the gang.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EDuring the plea hearing in June 2026, Luis Jeffrey Santana admitted to his membership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Luis Jeffrey Santana wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EIn \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-related-five-murders-after\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJune 9, 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in five additional murders in Essex County since 2017, bringing the total of federally charged murders to 11, and the total number of federally charged defendants to 56.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler; Methuen Police Acting Chief Jamie Moore, and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 style=\\\\u0022width:661px;\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E#\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFIRST NAME\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAST NAME\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDOCKET NO.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECASE STATUS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERicardo\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EBratini-Perez\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E24-CR-10310\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty,\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/trinitarios-gang-member-sentenced-10-years-prison\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESentenced\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to 120 Months\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E2\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERosnel\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPolanco\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E24-CR-10263\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty,\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAwaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E3\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEric\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERosario\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E24-CR-10263\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty,\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAwaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E4\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERobert\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESantana\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd 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  "error": "",
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}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01JYSYh33ExQr89QGVPfUzJr

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases page 2", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0039

(no result)

Tool Result E0040

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":50,\"page\":2},\"executionTime\":2.2491989135742188},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for using information stolen from physicians to fraudulently write opioid prescriptions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently caused prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances to be issued under the names of real medical providers and often in the names of nominal patients, neither of whom knew the prescriptions were being written.\\u0026nbsp;Ibrahim or others involved in the scheme would then pick up the prescriptions at Chicago-area pharmacies and work to distribute the drugs on the streets.\\u0026nbsp; Ibrahim was not a licensed physician and could not lawfully prescribe medications.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EFrom 2022 to 2025, Ibrahim was responsible for the unlawful distribution of 149,152 dosage units of oxycodone, 41,853 dosage units of hydrocodone, 30,517 dosage units of alprazolam, 22,625 dosage units of promethazine-codeine syrup, and 6,990 dosage units of amphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;Ibrahim also financially benefited from the scheme, resulting in the forfeiture of $200,800 in illicit proceeds that was seized from her residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EIbrahim, 48, of Palos Hills, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug conspiracy charge.\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Ibrahim to five years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge\\u0026nbsp;of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S.\\u0026nbsp;Drug Enforcement Administration.\\u0026nbsp; The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EFour other defendants were also convicted as part of the federal investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:22:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071739\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:21:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071662\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently prescribed oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Writing Opioid Prescriptions\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"d13d6b86-209f-460e-878e-b4dd44f9435f\",\"name\":\"Prescription Drugs\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/woman-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-fraudulently-writing-opioid-prescriptions\",\"uuid\":\"482a01db-56d5-4a8d-8cbe-2f188575b641\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESeattle \\u2013 Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Emily Vranic, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison; her co-defendant, Heather Marquis, 37, was sentenced to 31 months. Both women were sentenced to three years of supervised release following their release from custody. The two were arrested on a federal complaint in April 2025. At the sentencing hearing for Vranic, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted that the pair engaged in what she described as a \\u201cmulti-dimensional, deliberate effort to defraud many people in many different ways.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese defendants attempted to steal at least $330,000 from their victims over a three-year period \\u2013 ID theft and bank fraud was their \\u2018job\\u2019 and for at least 15 victims they were all too successful,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. \\u201cBeyond the financial harm, these defendants stole important records:\\u0026nbsp;tax returns; social security cards; retirement account information; divorce filings; immunization paperwork; immigration records; and military records. And each document theft was an invasion of privacy causing harm to the victim.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese two defendants made it their life\\u2019s work to lie, cheat, and defraud their very own community. Using every tool at their disposal to illicitly open accounts, redirect funds, and even paying their own mortgage while victims footed the bill.\\u201d said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti, \\u201cFinancial crimes of this nature inflict severe, long-term damage, forcing victims down a protracted road to recovery. Beyond the immediate financial loss, victims face the exhausting burden of closing fraudulent accounts and correcting damaged credit scores. While financial institutions may eventually reimburse stolen funds, they cannot restore the extensive time and energy required to repair the broader collateral damage.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to records filed in the case, from approximately 2021 until their arrests in November 2024, Vranic and Marquis defrauded victims and financial institutions in several different ways. Most often, they stole victims\\u2019 mail and used personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim\\u2019s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EArmed with their victims\\u2019 identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make monthly mortgage payments on the home they shared. One vulnerable victim was targeted with over $110,000 in fraudulent transfers; but for the bank\\u2019s intervention, that number would have been in excess of $170,000. Even when banks interceded to protect their customers by freezing targeted accounts, Vranic and Marquis repeatedly posed as account holders to try to get the fraud alerts removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn asking for a three-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore noted that though both women suffered from drug addiction, that did not affect the complexity of their frauds. \\u201cThis scheme nonetheless required an extraordinary amount of organization, planning, and executive functioning skills. Marquis and Vranic kept records of every individual, every account, every piece of personal information that would ensure their scheme\\u2019s success. The variety of methods the women employed to steal from their victims was nothing short of labyrinthine to unravel.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis has agreed to a restitution obligation of $102,784 to the victims. Vranic will have a restitution hearing in October 2026 to determine the amount she owes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:01:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077674\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b2f637ac-6743-4ff2-95ed-b078f601ea82\",\"name\":\"USAO - Washington, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:58:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077528\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESeattle \\u2013 Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Bremerton, Washington couple sentenced to prison for wide-ranging ID theft and bank fraud crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdwa\\/pr\\/bremerton-washington-couple-sentenced-prison-wide-ranging-id-theft-and-bank-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"dd2caca9-29f5-4b41-a518-0774d9acc7b3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u201cKnowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol\\u2011whipping her,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\u201cThis defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as \\u201cboot.\\u201d A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson M\\u0026amp;P pistol under a car.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. \\u0026nbsp;During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight\\u2019s pants.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\u2013 Washington Field Division.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460911\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/jknight_1.png?itok=Ho1RXseT\\u0022 width=\\u0022390\\u0022 height=\\u0022372\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Suspect standing in front of library\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460916\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/jknight_2.png?itok=dVfmGU-F\\u0022 width=\\u0022506\\u0022 height=\\u0022378\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;The loaded 9mm Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson M\\u0026amp;P pistol found in Knight\\u2019s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460921\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/jknight_3.png?itok=CCRxsnuD\\u0022 width=\\u0022418\\u0022 height=\\u0022434\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Black pistol and clip laying on table\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EThe 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr21\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067497\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066703\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460911\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"a41a8c09-34a8-4f3c-aec3-e79de1c1e405\"},\"alt\":\"Suspect standing in front of library\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460916\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"aeda6d44-6423-47e9-b74b-6b22370001cd\"},\"alt\":\"Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460921\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"8957d818-1095-461f-88e1-57ce50e37567\"},\"alt\":\"Black pistol and clip laying on table\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/repeat-felon-sentenced-10-years-dc-after-shooting-two-women-separate-attacks-months\",\"uuid\":\"b9c0e10b-5957-4a8b-9d7f-a74c4aa89716\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\u2013 An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins\\u2019s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins\\u2019s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:33:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072382\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:32:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdnc\\/pr\\/felon-sentenced-prison-illegally-possessing-multiple-firearms-and-violating-supervised\",\"uuid\":\"88a1ab96-5381-4866-896e-5b479658f090\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:15:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067733\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/atoka-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe violent actions of this defendant directly threatened the safety of everyday travelers and the dedicated personnel who work tirelessly to secure our nation\\u0027s airways,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\u201cPhysical assault against our TSA and local law enforcement partners will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. Our office remains steadfastly committed to ensuring our transit hubs remain safe and secure, and we will continue to hold accountable anyone who compromises public safety through violence.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTSA officers perform a vital public safety mission every day, and assaults against them are unacceptable,\\u201d said TSA Administrator David P. Cummins. \\u201cI commend the TSA officers at Harry Reid International Airport, along with TSA Investigations and our law enforcement partners, for their professionalism and quick response in protecting the checkpoint and the traveling public. TSA will continue to work closely with local law enforcement and the criminal justice system to ensure individuals who attempt to compromise airport security or assault our employees are held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on November 3, 2025, Jhon Raul Vizcaino Ramirez presented a TSA screening officer a boarding pass in the name of another person and attempted to enter the passenger boarding area. After Vizcaino Ramirez refused to provide his identification, the TSA officer would not return the boarding to Vizcaino Ramirez and Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted that officer. Officers attempted to detain Ramirez, but he resisted arrest. During the altercation, Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted two TSA officers and two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers who were assisting TSA. One officer sustained an injury that required surgery.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVizcaino Ramirez pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with security screening personnel; two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding person assisting certain officers or employees; and one count of entry by false pretenses to secure area of any airport.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by TSA Investigations with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:23:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075409\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:55:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789062915\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Cuban National Sentenced for Assaulting Transportation Security Officers and Local Law Enforcement Officers at Airport\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/cuban-national-sentenced-assaulting-transportation-security-officers-and-local-law\",\"uuid\":\"e271ca56-97c4-4ddb-9b06-045025007311\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cThe Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots and that every lawful vote is counted.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChaudhari is charged with one count of false information in voting, in violation of 52 U.S.C. \\u00a7 21144(b), incorporating 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1015(f), and one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote or vote, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1015(f). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fillmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorneys Flavio Abreu and William Rubens of the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:31:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"8d2ebf48-338b-4dce-af99-12ff73198db7\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Criminal Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:28:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075730\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1043\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"},{\"uuid\":\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\",\"name\":\"Voting and Elections\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election\",\"uuid\":\"61ae4bed-9d5b-41af-9748-0e5ff9018ab6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharge(s)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentence\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJose Buval, 35, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) \\u0026amp; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E19 years, 2 months\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ECesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine \\u0026amp; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EBrandon Bowman, 32, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EMaking a false statement during the purchase of a firearm \\u0026amp; Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJames McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E4 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ERobert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E5 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E13 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir\\u2019s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOver the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Department, Hamilton\\/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,\\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \\u201cHSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\u201cOur special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We\\u2019re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,\\u201d said Greg O\\u2019Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. \\u201cWithout these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn\\u2019t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese prosecutions\\u0026nbsp;are\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the\\u0026nbsp;Southern District of Indiana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056571\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:03:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056236\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/seven-including-el-salvadoran-national-sentenced-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"3e2d31d9-f117-4adc-8e20-fe728d6fa189\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to reports, on or about August 18, 2026, West was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of approximately thirty-seven pounds of a substance which appeared to be cocaine. Presumptive testing yielded positive results for cocaine which would have an estimated street value of around $400,000. Additionally, West was also found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm pistol.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney April Leon leads the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052959\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052811\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"BATON ROUGE MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF COCAINE \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdla\\/pr\\/baton-rouge-man-indicted-possessing-intent-distribute-approximately-thirty-seven\",\"uuid\":\"04d01bed-b584-457b-bdc2-8d12fff2b785\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECAPE GIRARDEAU \\u2013 A Southeast Missouri man who recorded his sexual abuse of children was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELantz D. Crawford, 26, of Ripley County, near Doniphan, recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2, 4, 5, 6 and 6, between the summer of 2024 and late 2025. In December of 2025, the mother of the 4-year-old girl contacted the Ripley County Sheriff\\u2019s Office after her daughter reported the abuse. Crawford\\u2019s phone was seized and investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting young children.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is one of the worst cases involving crimes against children I\\u2019ve encountered in my 23 years with the FBI, period. The abhorrent sexual abuse inflicted on these five preschool-aged children is beyond the pale,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. \\u201cLantz Crawford deliberately positioned himself to gain access to vulnerable children. He exploited the trust of single mothers who believed he was offering a helping hand, volunteering to watch their children or drive them places, when in reality, he was creating opportunities to prey upon them.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECrawford pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to five counts of production of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Ripley County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:56:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789062970\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:47:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789062471\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ELantz D. Crawford recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2-6.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Southeast Missouri Man Who Victimized Children Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/southeast-missouri-man-who-victimized-children-sentenced-40-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"75aa6a63-208a-4882-b7a8-c6c0cf6760b6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on December 19, 2024, BPD officers arrived at a building to assist BCPD detectives with executing an arrest warrant on Toliver. The warrant was in connection with a November 2024 shooting.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBCPD detectives located Toliver sitting in the driver\\u2019s seat of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Toliver out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest. As law enforcement searched Toliver, officers discovered oxycodone, cocaine base, and cocaine on him.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter towing the vehicle to BCPD Headquarters, law enforcement uncovered a loaded handgun with seven live rounds of ammunition under the driver\\u2019s seat. Toliver is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions. Additionally, investigators found $3,604.17, along with a large amount of Toliver\\u2019s clothing in the vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BCPD, and BPD for their work in the investigation.\\u0026nbsp; Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:31:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789165884\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:06:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070769\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/maryland-felon-sentenced-illegal-firearm-possession-hstf-case\",\"uuid\":\"dc3d302b-0a29-48eb-ac72-65b5354d06b4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ELAFAYETTE \\u2013 On September 9, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced \\u003Cstrong\\u003EKatherine Albarado\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 32, of Morgan City, to 60 months in federal prison for attempted possession of child pornography. \\u0026nbsp;Albarado had previously pled guilty to the charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cPredators\\u2014and especially people in positions of trust\\u2014who abuse our children have nowhere to hide in this District,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\u201cWe urge parents to remain vigilant and aware of their children\\u2019s digital and online communications, and this Office, along with our state and federal partners, will continue to investigate and prosecute those who exploit children for perverse, sexual purposes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court documents, in May 2022, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlbarado\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was employed as a teacher at Morgan City High School. During this period, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlbarado\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E used a personal email account to initiate and continue email communications with a student whom \\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlbarado\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E knew to be 16 years old. The messages were aimed at enticing the student into illegal sexual contact. They were extremely graphic and included a request for the minor victim to send sexually explicit images of himself to her.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe Morgan City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\u0026nbsp;at \\u0026nbsp;https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\/about-project-safe-childhood.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\/\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00355-01.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECONTACT:\\u003Cbr\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla\\u003Cbr\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\u003Cbr\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\u003Cbr\\u003E(337) 262-6704\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:08:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056497\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:58:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055890\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Morgan City Teacher Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Enticing Student via Email\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdla\\/pr\\/former-morgan-city-teacher-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-sexually-enticing\",\"uuid\":\"0015b9fc-76a9-4961-ac2c-21c7f58a2b8f\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460856\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7f86832b-1bb8-4118-948d-cb2002398d18\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDomp\\u00e9 U.S. Inc. (Domp\\u00e9), based in California, has \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/media\\/1460856\\/dl\\u0022\\u003Eagreed\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis settlement demonstrates the United States\\u2019 commitment to enforcing the Anti-Kickback Statute and ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers do not use unlawful inducements,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Division. \\u201cThe Department encourages companies that uncover improper kickbacks to self-disclose such conduct.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cKickbacks to beneficiaries undermine the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and drive up the cost of drugs,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. \\u201cMy Office has recovered over $1.4 billion for taxpayers through settlements and enforcement actions concerning drug company kickbacks to purported charities, and we will continue to pursue these matters to ensure that all drug companies play by the rules and to protect federal taxpayer funded healthcare programs.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPharmaceutical manufacturers that attempt to disguise kickbacks as charitable patient assistance are engaging in blatant misconduct which corrupts medical decision\\u2011making and drains federal health care programs,\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\u201cDomp\\u00e9\\u2019s actions undermined critical safeguards Congress put in place to protect Medicare, driving up costs for taxpayers while exploiting patients. HHS-OIG does not tolerate such conduct and will continue to work tirelessly for justice and accountability.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhen a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively \\u201cco-pays\\u201d). Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical manufacturer is prohibited from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration \\u2013 which includes money or any other thing of value \\u2013 to induce Medicare patients to purchase the company\\u2019s drugs. This prohibition extends to the payment of patients\\u2019 co-pay obligations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the settlement, Domp\\u00e9 admitted that, around the time of Oxervate\\u2019s 2018 launch in the United States, Domp\\u00e9 U.S. employees expressed reservations about launching the drug before making a payment to a patient assistance foundation that paid the co-pays for Oxervate. After conversations with Domp\\u00e9 employees, two foundations opened funds that, among other things, paid co-pays for Oxervate, and Domp\\u00e9 made contributions to those foundations. Domp\\u00e9 also solicited patient assistance foundation data directly from the foundations, and from the specialty pharmacy that provided hub services to Domp\\u00e9 U.S. patients. This data was provided, directly or indirectly, to certain individuals involved in the patient assistance foundation budgeting process.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDomp\\u00e9 is the U.S. subsidiary of Domp\\u00e9 farmaceutici S.p.A., a pharmaceutical company incorporated in Italy. Domp\\u00e9 farmaceutici self-disclosed this conduct to the United States. Following the disclosure, both Domp\\u00e9 farmaceutici and Domp\\u00e9 U.S. cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department\\u2019s guidelines for taking self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Department of Health and Human Services\\u2019 Office of Inspector General.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government\\u2019s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.\\u0026nbsp; One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration\\u2019s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division\\u2019s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division\\u2019s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:45:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058734\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\",\"name\":\"Civil Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:52:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055520\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1037\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDomp\\u00e9 U.S. Inc. (Domp\\u00e9), based in California, has \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/media\\/1460856\\/dl\\u0022\\u003Eagreed\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Domp\\u00e9 U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"87816596-1bad-44b8-b138-df98755a6895\",\"name\":\"False Claims Act\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient\",\"uuid\":\"4b5968c1-9589-4c0e-8aa4-c7f1c95929c9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit\\u0026nbsp;the proceeds traceable to the offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies\\u2019 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees\\u2019 paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee\\u2019s paychecks to the company\\u2019s health insurance plan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is\\u0026nbsp;presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Labor \\u2013 Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation \\u2013 Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:06:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:50:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059024\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees\\u2019 Benefit Plans\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\",\"uuid\":\"db552d61-470f-4192-905a-daa9f2432448\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victorino Javier Cruz-Lopez, age 40,\\u0026nbsp;of Mexico, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for illegal reentry. Cruz-Lopez will be deported upon conclusion of his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller,\\u0026nbsp;Cruz-Lopez\\u0026nbsp;was encountered in the United States in York County on April 16, 2026, after having previously been removed in 2013.\\u0026nbsp;Cruz-Lopez\\u0026nbsp;did not receive permission to reenter the United States, as required by law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:50:44-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055444\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:49:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055395\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces Deportation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-15-months-prison-illegal-reentry-faces-deportation\",\"uuid\":\"3af284d7-6eb7-452b-a66a-147ded705df6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A Gallup man pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, in the early morning hours of April 6, 2025, a shooting occurred at a Church Rock, New Mexico residence. A resident of the home awoke to gunshots and, along with a second resident, entered 16-year-old Jane Doe\\u2019s bedroom, where the residents discovered 18-year-old John Doe deceased on the floor, Jane Doe suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMario Israel Barraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 19\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, at approximately 3:30 a.m., \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E arrived at Jane Doe\\u2019s residence and approached Jane Doe\\u2019s bedroom window. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E knew the window was sometimes left unlocked because he had previously entered the home through the window when visiting Jane Doe at night. When \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E opened the window, he encountered John Doe, whom he had never met.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe two began fighting through the window, and during the altercation a handgun was introduced. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E gained possession of the handgun and fired at least 11 gunshots into the bedroom. Most of the shots struck John Doe; Jane Doe, who was directly behind John Doe, was also hit by gunfire.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E fled the scene immediately after the shooting, drove home, and disposed of the handgun in an open field. He later provided his attorneys with the location of the handgun.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJane Doe and John Doe are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBarraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, he faces up to life in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053623\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Mexico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:19:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053563\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-264\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMario Israel Barraza\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Gallup Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Fatal Shooting\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nm\\/pr\\/gallup-man-pleads-guilty-charges-fatal-shooting\",\"uuid\":\"458918f9-8a05-4a16-9277-246ca66a5c51\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\u2013 A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChristopher McInturf, 56, of Newark, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the crimes in February.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca class=\\u0022ck-anchor\\u0022 id=\\u0022_Hlk223007491\\u0022\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003EAccording to court documents, in February 2025, the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center referred an investigative lead regarding McInturf using CashApp to pay for child pornography. Further investigation revealed that McInturf met an individual online who he believed to be in Paraguay. McInturf would pay the person typically $80 or $86 for bundles of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn January 2025, McInturf messaged the individual asking for \\u201csomething new? Rape is good. 10 to 15 yr\\u2026\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EInvestigators discovered child sexual abuse material of prepubescent female victims on McInturf\\u2019s digital devices. For example, one video was a 70-minute compilation of 55 children being sexually assaulted who were approximately two to 10 years old.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn a thumb drive, McInturf had an explicit photo of a minor previously identified as the victim in a case against the defendant in Licking County. McInturf was convicted in 2011 in Licking County of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in his local case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMcInturf was charged federally in February 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:26:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789057597\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:24:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789057475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\u2013 A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Repeat sex offender from Licking County sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for new child pornography crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdoh\\/pr\\/repeat-sex-offender-licking-county-sentenced-more-19-years-federal-prison-new-child\",\"uuid\":\"3dbb15f0-5a3c-4a59-84f6-cf67b5433311\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ENORFOLK, Va. \\u2013 A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court documents, in April, May and June of 2025, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Andre Lawrence Shorts, 35. After a fourth transaction was arranged, law enforcement arrested Shorts a short distance from his residence. From Shorts\\u2019 vehicle, investigators recovered 199.45 grams of cocaine, 7.25 grams of methamphetamine, 11 methamphetamine tablets, 47 amphetamine tablets, three capsules containing a heroin\\/fentanyl mixture, baggies, a scale, two cell phones, $546, and a stolen handgun.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EFrom Shorts\\u2019 residence, investigators recovered 251.97 grams of cocaine and $1,030. After Shorts was turned over to the Virginia Beach Sheriff\\u2019s Office for booking, a deputy discovered another 27.68 grams of cocaine concealed in a body cavity.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-42.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:09:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789060192\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:09:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789060178\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAndre Lawrence Shorts, 35, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Virginia Beach cocaine dealer sentenced to eight years in prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edva\\/pr\\/virginia-beach-cocaine-dealer-sentenced-eight-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"50bd3c99-e5a9-49aa-b0cd-41e7098bc6ec\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789048448\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - S [...truncated 13350 characters...] t are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:06:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063603\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\",\"uuid\":\"56e7b3ab-5021-464e-a77c-d6c6bd3d03d1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAll six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver\\u2019s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJENAY DAVIS (\\u201cDAVIS\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, and \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECHRISTOPHER BRYAN BURNS (\\u201cBURNS\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003ESHAKERA MILLIEN (\\u201cMILLIEN\\u201d) \\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epleaded guilty on September 9, 2026. The other defendants\\u2014\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMAHMOUD ALHATTAB (\\u201cALHATTAB\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EJONATHAN PARSONS (\\u201cPARSONS\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMARLINE ROBERTS (\\u201cROBERTS\\u201d)\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epleaded guilty on July 29, 2026. All six defendants appeared before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a restaurant owner, led a scheme in which Commercial Driver\\u2019s License (\\u201cCDL\\u201d) applicants paid him an average of $5,000 to obtain unearned\\u0026nbsp;CDLs. The scheme enabled applicants to bypass all three\\u0026nbsp;main federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process: the knowledge test, entry-level driver training, and the skills test.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe commercial transportation industry is a vital component of this nation\\u2019s economy. As a result, the competency and fitness of commercial drivers to safely and knowledgeably operate those vehicles on our streets and highways, is vital to the welfare of all the other drivers in our communities,\\u201d said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana David I. Courcelle. \\u201cSolely to satisfy their own greed, the perpetrators of this sweeping fraudulent scheme callously endangered the lives of other drivers by allowing commercial drivers, who were woefully unprepared to safely navigate travel hazards, to operate on America\\u2019s roadways.\\u0026nbsp; However, today\\u2019s convictions demonstrate the combined mission of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General\\u2019s Southern Region, to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes and to keep American roads safe for commuters.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cEvery defendant in this case was willing to endanger the motoring public by giving unqualified people authorization to operate commercial vehicles,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cOur partners at the DOT-OIG, Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles, and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General helped us build a strong case for prosecutors. We thank the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office for their unwavering support in our fight against dangerous fraud.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe convictions announced today underscore the grave danger posed by schemes that undermine the integrity of the commercial driver\\u2019s licensing process. Deliberately circumventing federally mandated safety requirements is not only unlawful\\u2014it puts everyone on our nation\\u2019s roadways at risk,\\u201d stated Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General\\u2019s Southern Region. \\u201cWe will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively investigate these schemes, dismantle them, and hold accountable those who put the traveling public at risk for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe knowledge test, administered at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), is a written examination covering vehicle safety systems, emergency\\u0026nbsp;situations,\\u0026nbsp;procedures for various\\u0026nbsp;maneuvers, and extreme driving conditions. Passing this test results in the issuance of a commercial learner\\u2019s permit, which is required before an applicant can proceed to training and the skills test.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo bypass the knowledge test, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E bribed \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, employees at the Donaldsonville, Louisiana OMV office. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E typically sent \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E or \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E a photograph of an applicant\\u2019s driver\\u2019s license via cell phone, along with any requested endorsements, such as a school bus endorsement. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E or \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E then completed the applicant\\u2019s knowledge test. They used their cell phones to conduct online research to answer test questions. For example, one on occasion, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E visited webpages on brake\\u0026nbsp;inspection, vehicle fires, hazardous materials,\\u0026nbsp;and how to stop a skidding trailer. Similarly, on one occasion, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E conducted online\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Esearches for\\u0026nbsp;emergency-controlled\\u0026nbsp;braking, hydraulic brake failure, and pre-trip\\u0026nbsp;vehicle inspections.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E or \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E falsified the test results, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E would bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office, where \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E or \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E issued a commercial learner\\u2019s permit based on the fraudulent scores.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E allowed \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E to bring applicants into the OMV office through a non-public side door and permitted him access to non-public areas. On some occasions, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E even went behind the counter and operated the OMV camera to take applicants\\u2019 photographs for the permits. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E paid \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E in cash and provided them with meals.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter passing the knowledge test and obtaining a commercial learner\\u2019s permit, most CDL applicants are required to complete entry\\u2011level driver training, which includes demonstrating proficiency in operating a commercial vehicle on public roads.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo bypass the training requirement, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E bribed \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, each of whom operated a truck\\u2011driver training business. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E typically sent \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E or \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E a photograph of an applicant\\u2019s commercial learner\\u2019s permit via cell phone, thereby providing the information to create false training records. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, in exchange for payments from \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, reported in a federal database that applicants successfully completed training when, in fact, no training occurred.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe final major step in the CDL process is the skills test, administered by state\\u2011authorized examiners who\\u0026nbsp;are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Federal regulations require the skills test to include a pre\\u2011trip vehicle inspection, vehicle control\\u0026nbsp;skills, and safety\\u2011related on\\u2011road driving\\u0026nbsp;skills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo defeat the skills test requirement, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E again bribed \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, who, in addition to being trainers, were certified by Louisiana to administer the test. They falsely reported to the State that applicants passed the skills test when the applicants had not taken it. Early in the scheme, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E would pose as an applicant and drive the test vehicle to make it appear that \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was conducting a legitimate test. Eventually, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E concluded that such precautions were unnecessary, and thereafter \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E routinely entered fraudulent test results with neither \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E nor the applicant present. On some occasions, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E paid another examiner, defendant \\u003Cstrong\\u003EROBERTS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, to assist by creating fake score sheets to support \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s fraudulent test entries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter an applicant received false skills test scores, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E typically alerted \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E or \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E that the applicant would be returning to the OMV office to obtain the CDL. Because many applicants were not proficient in English, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E sometimes informed \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E of the language barrier. For example, on one occasion he texted \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E that an applicant\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cis\\u0026nbsp;outside [the OMV office] to get his CDL\\u201d and \\u201cNo English,\\u201d meaning the applicant did not speak English.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2023, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, who had been in the scheme for years, met with \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E at \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u2019s\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E restaurant to discuss \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E joining. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E initially agreed to compensation of $400 per fraudulent skills test entry. However, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E later complained that the amount was too low, texting \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E that this was why \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u201conly agreed to 3 or 4 [false skills test entries] per week.\\u201d \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E then agreed to increase \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s payment to $500 per entry and to assign \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E more\\u0026nbsp;skills tests to enter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal the scheme, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E occasionally rescheduled purported skills tests to avoid the appearance that applicants tested in bad weather. For example, in February 2021, when asked whether an applicant was \\u201cgood to go\\u201d to the OMV, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E texted \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E who\\u0026nbsp;replied, \\u201cNaw, we couldn\\u2019t do any testing\\u0026nbsp;today because of the\\u0026nbsp;frozen roads\\u0026nbsp;up here. I couldn\\u2019t pass him, it\\u0026nbsp;wouldn\\u2019t look right.\\u201d Similarly, in December 2023, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E texted\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u201cI had\\u0026nbsp;to cancel test\\u0026nbsp;today. Raining bad. Will reset Tuesday.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EText messages showed a desire to increase the volume of applicants. For example, in January 2021, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E told \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E that he had approximately 20 individuals seeking CDLs and that \\u201c[t]his year it will be a good year,\\u201d to which \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E replied, \\u201cHeck yeah\\u201d; \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E texted\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u201cI have to[o] many\\u201d applicants to which \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;replied, \\u201cThat\\u0027s a good thing\\u201d; and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E texted, \\u201cKeep them coming!\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;to which \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E replied, \\u201cWill do.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;Similarly, in December 2023, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E discussed targeting out\\u2011of\\u2011state applicants, whom they believed would pay more. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Etexted, \\u201cMy original plan funnel people from Texas and Florida\\u201d and \\u201cGet it set up and we roll\\u201d; \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Ereplied, \\u201cthe door is open now to Texas the guy you did has over 15 guys they have permit\\u201d; and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Etexted, \\u201cSweet!\\u201d; \\u201cline em up\\u201d and \\u201csend some to\\u0026nbsp;[\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E]\\u0026nbsp;so we spread it around.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom August 2020 through February 2024, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E caused at least 124 people to fraudulently receive CDLs. During that time, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E issued at least 108 commercial learner\\u2019s permits in exchange for payments from \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E. Also, during that period, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E caused at least 118\\u0026nbsp;people to\\u0026nbsp;fraudulently\\u0026nbsp;receive CDLs by\\u0026nbsp;providing each person with a false training\\u0026nbsp;entry, or a false skills test\\u0026nbsp;entry, or both. In early 2023, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EROBERTS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E created false score sheets for \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E on seven occasions.\\u0026nbsp;From August 2023 through January 2024, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E caused at least 18 people to obtain fraudulent CDLs by\\u0026nbsp;providing each person with a false skills test\\u0026nbsp;entry, and, for some of them, also providing false training entries. From March 2023 through February 2024, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E issued at least 14 commercial learner\\u2019s permits in exchange for payments from \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe six defendants each pleaded guilty to Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, which is punishable by up to 10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for October 28, 2026, for \\u003Cstrong\\u003EALHATTAB\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPARSONS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EROBERTS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E; for December 2, 2026, for \\u003Cstrong\\u003EDAVIS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E; and December 9, 2026, for \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBURNS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMILLIEN\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation \\u2013 Office of Inspector General investigated\\u0026nbsp;this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle thanked the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Public Safety Services for their valuable assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is\\u0026nbsp;in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:21:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789064467\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:58:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063083\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAll six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver\\u2019s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Defendants Convicted for Scheme Enabling More Than 100 Drivers, Many Not Proficient in English, to Fraudulently Obtain Commercial Driver\\u2019s Licenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/defendants-convicted-scheme-enabling-more-100-drivers-many-not-proficient-english\",\"uuid\":\"7446df0c-4e85-4b05-b471-47cab5e92a5a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDES MOINES, Iowa \\u2013 Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between March 2025 and September 11, 2025, the charged defendants obtained and distributed methamphetamine within Des Moines and elsewhere. The more than six-month investigation included controlled purchases of methamphetamine and concluded with the execution of more than 50 search warrants on September\\u0026nbsp;11, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendants involved in this conspiracy include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e72ad587066074cfc5f18f4e1319f354c\\u0022\\u003ECole Anthony Langford, 42, sentenced to a 30-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e7dc1cb2d5cf332c92ee13d53252695\\u0022\\u003EKenneth Donald Stockman, 44, sentenced to a 12-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e2c3b4e84318e5bc5b81df0090f1d83a0\\u0022\\u003EJoshua Andrew Rankin, 38, sentenced to a 200-month prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3fea26103efc6dcc9a777142b5f6e3be\\u0022\\u003EJames \\u201cJimmy\\u201d Stephen Waters Jr., 61, sentenced to a 78\\u2011month prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ea42672fbe68852841354d7fb92c6c751\\u0022\\u003ETodd Allen Miller Jr., 32, sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e164a8f924d0abe3995985192b2a061aa\\u0022\\u003ESamantha Sue Baldridge, 34, sentenced to a six-year prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e7fd659d00b27d8372a4e9c85c7c0abd6\\u0022\\u003ESimon Anaya Sanchez, 50, sentenced to a 190-month prison term, followed by a six-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e1209269e6323dfbef62f29f7ba0c13b0\\u0022\\u003EJason Lee Baxter-Blakely, 38, sentenced to a 100-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb81a10a45636289160ef3aa9d5b0dcc1\\u0022\\u003EJessica Renae Gleason, 43, sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; and\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0a83029063ff54251cba58f203325152\\u0022\\u003ESara Ann Bowers, 40, of Des Moines, sentenced to a 10-year prison term, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time they conspired to distribute methamphetamine:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6547471e6ee301002d234234f988b20f\\u0022\\u003ELangford was on absconder status for state eluding and drug trafficking offenses, following his parole from state custody after serving less than one year of his sentences.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e1dd5b7e4348e875bbf6ed77b73e27bbf\\u0022\\u003ERankin was on absconder status for two state drug trafficking offenses.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e2c9b4a9ea231ce83c1571fb38e97f904\\u0022\\u003EMiller was on parole for three state drug trafficking offenses.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb06ee9497f7eb15b0459880814e2f0d7\\u0022\\u003ESanchez had a prior federal drug conviction from the Southern District of Iowa and had been discharged from supervised release in 2021.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e446be7625f918efa3b1a87bd82f91403\\u0022\\u003EGleason was on parole for a state drug trafficking offense.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Marshall County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Marshalltown Police Department, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Tri-County Drug Task Force, and dozens of others.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:49:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789152555\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:40:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789152040\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDES MOINES, Iowa \\u2013 Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"10 Des Moines Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdia\\/pr\\/10-des-moines-individuals-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"96173b36-b1ae-4c74-a4fd-239b0a53435c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Adam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThrough his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the United States Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence underscores that we always stand ready\\u2014even years later and on the other side of an ocean\\u2014to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAdam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,\\u2 [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01JYSYh33ExQr89QGVPfUzJr, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.274

Inner payload

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tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.275

Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.276

Inner payload

{
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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":2},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.2491989135742188},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for using information stolen from physicians to fraudulently write opioid prescriptions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently caused prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances to be issued under the names of real medical providers and often in the names of nominal patients, neither of whom knew the prescriptions were being written.\\\\u0026nbsp;Ibrahim or others involved in the scheme would then pick up the prescriptions at Chicago-area pharmacies and work to distribute the drugs on the streets.\\\\u0026nbsp; Ibrahim was not a licensed physician and could not lawfully prescribe medications.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFrom 2022 to 2025, Ibrahim was responsible for the unlawful distribution of 149,152 dosage units of oxycodone, 41,853 dosage units of hydrocodone, 30,517 dosage units of alprazolam, 22,625 dosage units of promethazine-codeine syrup, and 6,990 dosage units of amphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;Ibrahim also financially benefited from the scheme, resulting in the forfeiture of $200,800 in illicit proceeds that was seized from her residence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIbrahim, 48, of Palos Hills, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug conspiracy charge.\\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Ibrahim to five years in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge\\\\u0026nbsp;of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Drug Enforcement Administration.\\\\u0026nbsp; The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFour other defendants were also convicted as part of the federal investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:22:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071739\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:21:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071662\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently prescribed oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Writing Opioid Prescriptions\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d13d6b86-209f-460e-878e-b4dd44f9435f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Prescription Drugs\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/woman-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-fraudulently-writing-opioid-prescriptions\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"482a01db-56d5-4a8d-8cbe-2f188575b641\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeattle \\\\u2013 Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Emily Vranic, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison; her co-defendant, Heather Marquis, 37, was sentenced to 31 months. Both women were sentenced to three years of supervised release following their release from custody. The two were arrested on a federal complaint in April 2025. At the sentencing hearing for Vranic, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted that the pair engaged in what she described as a \\\\u201cmulti-dimensional, deliberate effort to defraud many people in many different ways.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese defendants attempted to steal at least $330,000 from their victims over a three-year period \\\\u2013 ID theft and bank fraud was their \\\\u2018job\\\\u2019 and for at least 15 victims they were all too successful,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. \\\\u201cBeyond the financial harm, these defendants stole important records:\\\\u0026nbsp;tax returns; social security cards; retirement account information; divorce filings; immunization paperwork; immigration records; and military records. And each document theft was an invasion of privacy causing harm to the victim.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese two defendants made it their life\\\\u2019s work to lie, cheat, and defraud their very own community. Using every tool at their disposal to illicitly open accounts, redirect funds, and even paying their own mortgage while victims footed the bill.\\\\u201d said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti, \\\\u201cFinancial crimes of this nature inflict severe, long-term damage, forcing victims down a protracted road to recovery. Beyond the immediate financial loss, victims face the exhausting burden of closing fraudulent accounts and correcting damaged credit scores. While financial institutions may eventually reimburse stolen funds, they cannot restore the extensive time and energy required to repair the broader collateral damage.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to records filed in the case, from approximately 2021 until their arrests in November 2024, Vranic and Marquis defrauded victims and financial institutions in several different ways. Most often, they stole victims\\\\u2019 mail and used personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim\\\\u2019s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EArmed with their victims\\\\u2019 identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make monthly mortgage payments on the home they shared. One vulnerable victim was targeted with over $110,000 in fraudulent transfers; but for the bank\\\\u2019s intervention, that number would have been in excess of $170,000. Even when banks interceded to protect their customers by freezing targeted accounts, Vranic and Marquis repeatedly posed as account holders to try to get the fraud alerts removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn asking for a three-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore noted that though both women suffered from drug addiction, that did not affect the complexity of their frauds. \\\\u201cThis scheme nonetheless required an extraordinary amount of organization, planning, and executive functioning skills. Marquis and Vranic kept records of every individual, every account, every piece of personal information that would ensure their scheme\\\\u2019s success. The variety of methods the women employed to steal from their victims was nothing short of labyrinthine to unravel.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis has agreed to a restitution obligation of $102,784 to the victims. Vranic will have a restitution hearing in October 2026 to determine the amount she owes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T18:01:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789077674\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2f637ac-6743-4ff2-95ed-b078f601ea82\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Washington, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:58:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789077528\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeattle \\\\u2013 Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Bremerton, Washington couple sentenced to prison for wide-ranging ID theft and bank fraud crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdwa\\\\/pr\\\\/bremerton-washington-couple-sentenced-prison-wide-ranging-id-theft-and-bank-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dd2caca9-29f5-4b41-a518-0774d9acc7b3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cKnowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol\\\\u2011whipping her,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\\\u201cThis defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as \\\\u201cboot.\\\\u201d A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol under a car.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. \\\\u0026nbsp;During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight\\\\u2019s pants.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\\\u2013 Washington Field Division.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460911\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_1.png?itok=Ho1RXseT\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022390\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022372\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Suspect standing in front of library\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460916\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_2.png?itok=dVfmGU-F\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022506\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022378\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;The loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol found in Knight\\\\u2019s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460921\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_3.png?itok=CCRxsnuD\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022418\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022434\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EThe 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr21\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067497\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066703\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460911\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a41a8c09-34a8-4f3c-aec3-e79de1c1e405\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Suspect standing in front of library\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460916\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aeda6d44-6423-47e9-b74b-6b22370001cd\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460921\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8957d818-1095-461f-88e1-57ce50e37567\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/repeat-felon-sentenced-10-years-dc-after-shooting-two-women-separate-attacks-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b9c0e10b-5957-4a8b-9d7f-a74c4aa89716\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\\\u2013 An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins\\\\u2019s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins\\\\u2019s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:33:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072382\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:32:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072330\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-sentenced-prison-illegally-possessing-multiple-firearms-and-violating-supervised\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"88a1ab96-5381-4866-896e-5b479658f090\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:15:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067733\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066782\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/atoka-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe violent actions of this defendant directly threatened the safety of everyday travelers and the dedicated personnel who work tirelessly to secure our nation\\\\u0027s airways,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cPhysical assault against our TSA and local law enforcement partners will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. Our office remains steadfastly committed to ensuring our transit hubs remain safe and secure, and we will continue to hold accountable anyone who compromises public safety through violence.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTSA officers perform a vital public safety mission every day, and assaults against them are unacceptable,\\\\u201d said TSA Administrator David P. Cummins. \\\\u201cI commend the TSA officers at Harry Reid International Airport, along with TSA Investigations and our law enforcement partners, for their professionalism and quick response in protecting the checkpoint and the traveling public. TSA will continue to work closely with local law enforcement and the criminal justice system to ensure individuals who attempt to compromise airport security or assault our employees are held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on November 3, 2025, Jhon Raul Vizcaino Ramirez presented a TSA screening officer a boarding pass in the name of another person and attempted to enter the passenger boarding area. After Vizcaino Ramirez refused to provide his identification, the TSA officer would not return the boarding to Vizcaino Ramirez and Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted that officer. Officers attempted to detain Ramirez, but he resisted arrest. During the altercation, Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted two TSA officers and two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers who were assisting TSA. One officer sustained an injury that required surgery.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVizcaino Ramirez pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with security screening personnel; two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding person assisting certain officers or employees; and one count of entry by false pretenses to secure area of any airport.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by TSA Investigations with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:23:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789075409\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:55:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062915\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Cuban National Sentenced for Assaulting Transportation Security Officers and Local Law Enforcement Officers at Airport\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/cuban-national-sentenced-assaulting-transportation-security-officers-and-local-law\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e271ca56-97c4-4ddb-9b06-045025007311\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cThe Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots and that every lawful vote is counted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChaudhari is charged with one count of false information in voting, in violation of 52 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 21144(b), incorporating 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 1015(f), and one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote or vote, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 1015(f). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fillmore County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorneys Flavio Abreu and William Rubens of the Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:31:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789075917\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8d2ebf48-338b-4dce-af99-12ff73198db7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights - Criminal Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:28:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789075730\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1043\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Voting and Elections\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"61ae4bed-9d5b-41af-9748-0e5ff9018ab6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharge(s)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentence\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJose Buval, 35, Seymour\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) \\\\u0026amp; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E19 years, 2 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine \\\\u0026amp; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EBrandon Bowman, 32, Seymour\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMaking a false statement during the purchase of a firearm \\\\u0026amp; Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJames McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E4 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERobert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E5 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E13 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir\\\\u2019s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOver the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department, Hamilton\\\\/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,\\\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cArmed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,\\\\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \\\\u201cHSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,\\\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\\\u201cOur special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We\\\\u2019re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,\\\\u201d said Greg O\\\\u2019Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. \\\\u201cWithout these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn\\\\u2019t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese prosecutions\\\\u0026nbsp;are\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the\\\\u0026nbsp;Southern District of Indiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789056571\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:03:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789056236\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/seven-including-el-salvadoran-national-sentenced-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3e2d31d9-f117-4adc-8e20-fe728d6fa189\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to reports, on or about August 18, 2026, West was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of approximately thirty-seven pounds of a substance which appeared to be cocaine. Presumptive testing yielded positive results for cocaine which would have an estimated street value of around $400,000. Additionally, West was also found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm pistol.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney April Leon leads the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789052959\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789052811\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"BATON ROUGE MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF COCAINE  \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdla\\\\/pr\\\\/baton-rouge-man-indicted-possessing-intent-distribute-approximately-thirty-seven\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"04d01bed-b584-457b-bdc2-8d12fff2b785\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECAPE GIRARDEAU \\\\u2013 A Southeast Missouri man who recorded his sexual abuse of children was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELantz D. Crawford, 26, of Ripley County, near Doniphan, recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2, 4, 5, 6 and 6, between the summer of 2024 and late 2025. In December of 2025, the mother of the 4-year-old girl contacted the Ripley County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office after her daughter reported the abuse. Crawford\\\\u2019s phone was seized and investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting young children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis is one of the worst cases involving crimes against children I\\\\u2019ve encountered in my 23 years with the FBI, period. The abhorrent sexual abuse inflicted on these five preschool-aged children is beyond the pale,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. \\\\u201cLantz Crawford deliberately positioned himself to gain access to vulnerable children. He exploited the trust of single mothers who believed he was offering a helping hand, volunteering to watch their children or drive them places, when in reality, he was creating opportunities to prey upon them.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECrawford pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to five counts of production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Ripley County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:56:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062970\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:47:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062471\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELantz D. Crawford recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2-6.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Southeast Missouri Man Who Victimized Children Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/southeast-missouri-man-who-victimized-children-sentenced-40-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75aa6a63-208a-4882-b7a8-c6c0cf6760b6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on December 19, 2024, BPD officers arrived at a building to assist BCPD detectives with executing an arrest warrant on Toliver. The warrant was in connection with a November 2024 shooting.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBCPD detectives located Toliver sitting in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Toliver out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest. As law enforcement searched Toliver, officers discovered oxycodone, cocaine base, and cocaine on him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter towing the vehicle to BCPD Headquarters, law enforcement uncovered a loaded handgun with seven live rounds of ammunition under the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Toliver is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions. Additionally, investigators found $3,604.17, along with a large amount of Toliver\\\\u2019s clothing in the vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BCPD, and BPD for their work in the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T18:31:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789165884\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:06:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789070769\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-felon-sentenced-illegal-firearm-possession-hstf-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dc3d302b-0a29-48eb-ac72-65b5354d06b4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELAFAYETTE \\\\u2013 On September 9, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKatherine Albarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 32, of Morgan City, to 60 months in federal prison for attempted possession of child pornography. \\\\u0026nbsp;Albarado had previously pled guilty to the charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPredators\\\\u2014and especially people in positions of trust\\\\u2014who abuse our children have nowhere to hide in this District,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\\\u201cWe urge parents to remain vigilant and aware of their children\\\\u2019s digital and online communications, and this Office, along with our state and federal partners, will continue to investigate and prosecute those who exploit children for perverse, sexual purposes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in May 2022, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlbarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was employed as a teacher at Morgan City High School. During this period, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlbarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E used a personal email account to initiate and continue email communications with a student whom \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlbarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E knew to be 16 years old. The messages were aimed at enticing the student into illegal sexual contact. They were extremely graphic and included a request for the minor victim to send sexually explicit images of himself to her.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Morgan City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\\\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\\\u0026nbsp;at \\\\u0026nbsp;https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/about-project-safe-childhood.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\\\/\\\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00355-01.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONTACT:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E(337) 262-6704\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:08:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789056497\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:58:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055890\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Morgan City Teacher Sentenced  to Five Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Enticing Student via Email\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\/pr\\\\/former-morgan-city-teacher-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-sexually-enticing\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0015b9fc-76a9-4961-ac2c-21c7f58a2b8f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460856\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f86832b-1bb8-4118-948d-cb2002398d18\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDomp\\\\u00e9 U.S. Inc. (Domp\\\\u00e9), based in California, has \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/media\\\\/1460856\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eagreed\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis settlement demonstrates the United States\\\\u2019 commitment to enforcing the Anti-Kickback Statute and ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers do not use unlawful inducements,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Division. \\\\u201cThe Department encourages companies that uncover improper kickbacks to self-disclose such conduct.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cKickbacks to beneficiaries undermine the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and drive up the cost of drugs,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. \\\\u201cMy Office has recovered over $1.4 billion for taxpayers through settlements and enforcement actions concerning drug company kickbacks to purported charities, and we will continue to pursue these matters to ensure that all drug companies play by the rules and to protect federal taxpayer funded healthcare programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPharmaceutical manufacturers that attempt to disguise kickbacks as charitable patient assistance are engaging in blatant misconduct which corrupts medical decision\\\\u2011making and drains federal health care programs,\\\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\\\u201cDomp\\\\u00e9\\\\u2019s actions undermined critical safeguards Congress put in place to protect Medicare, driving up costs for taxpayers while exploiting patients. HHS-OIG does not tolerate such conduct and will continue to work tirelessly for justice and accountability.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively \\\\u201cco-pays\\\\u201d). Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical manufacturer is prohibited from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration \\\\u2013 which includes money or any other thing of value \\\\u2013 to induce Medicare patients to purchase the company\\\\u2019s drugs. This prohibition extends to the payment of patients\\\\u2019 co-pay obligations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the settlement, Domp\\\\u00e9 admitted that, around the time of Oxervate\\\\u2019s 2018 launch in the United States, Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. employees expressed reservations about launching the drug before making a payment to a patient assistance foundation that paid the co-pays for Oxervate. After conversations with Domp\\\\u00e9 employees, two foundations opened funds that, among other things, paid co-pays for Oxervate, and Domp\\\\u00e9 made contributions to those foundations. Domp\\\\u00e9 also solicited patient assistance foundation data directly from the foundations, and from the specialty pharmacy that provided hub services to Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. patients. This data was provided, directly or indirectly, to certain individuals involved in the patient assistance foundation budgeting process.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDomp\\\\u00e9 is the U.S. subsidiary of Domp\\\\u00e9 farmaceutici S.p.A., a pharmaceutical company incorporated in Italy. Domp\\\\u00e9 farmaceutici self-disclosed this conduct to the United States. Following the disclosure, both Domp\\\\u00e9 farmaceutici and Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department\\\\u2019s guidelines for taking self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Department of Health and Human Services\\\\u2019 Office of Inspector General.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government\\\\u2019s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration\\\\u2019s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division\\\\u2019s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division\\\\u2019s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:45:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789058734\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:52:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055520\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1037\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDomp\\\\u00e9 U.S. Inc. (Domp\\\\u00e9), based in California, has \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/media\\\\/1460856\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eagreed\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"87816596-1bad-44b8-b138-df98755a6895\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"False Claims Act\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4b5968c1-9589-4c0e-8aa4-c7f1c95929c9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013 United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\\\u201cDutch\\\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit\\\\u0026nbsp;the proceeds traceable to the offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment,\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies\\\\u2019 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees\\\\u2019 paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee\\\\u2019s paychecks to the company\\\\u2019s health insurance plan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is\\\\u0026nbsp;presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Labor \\\\u2013 Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation \\\\u2013 Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:06:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789059976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:50:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789059024\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013 United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\\\u201cDutch\\\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees\\\\u2019 Benefit Plans\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"db552d61-470f-4192-905a-daa9f2432448\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\\\/news-and-media\\\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eon separate\\\\u0026nbsp;charges\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789074774\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789074559\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Asset Forfeiture\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victorino Javier Cruz-Lopez, age 40,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Mexico, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for illegal reentry. Cruz-Lopez will be deported upon conclusion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller,\\\\u0026nbsp;Cruz-Lopez\\\\u0026nbsp;was encountered in the United States in York County on April 16, 2026, after having previously been removed in 2013.\\\\u0026nbsp;Cruz-Lopez\\\\u0026nbsp;did not receive permission to reenter the United States, as required by law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:50:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055444\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:49:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055395\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces Deportation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-15-months-prison-illegal-reentry-faces-deportation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3af284d7-6eb7-452b-a66a-147ded705df6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A Gallup man pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, in the early morning hours of April 6, 2025, a shooting occurred at a Church Rock, New Mexico residence. A resident of the home awoke to gunshots and, along with a second resident, entered 16-year-old Jane Doe\\\\u2019s bedroom, where the residents discovered 18-year-old John Doe deceased on the floor, Jane Doe suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMario Israel Barraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 19\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, at approximately 3:30 a.m., \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E arrived at Jane Doe\\\\u2019s residence and approached Jane Doe\\\\u2019s bedroom window. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E knew the window was sometimes left unlocked because he had previously entered the home through the window when visiting Jane Doe at night. When \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E opened the window, he encountered John Doe, whom he had never met.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe two began fighting through the window, and during the altercation a handgun was introduced. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E gained possession of the handgun and fired at least 11 gunshots into the bedroom. Most of the shots struck John Doe; Jane Doe, who was directly behind John Doe, was also hit by gunfire.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E fled the scene immediately after the shooting, drove home, and disposed of the handgun in an open field. He later provided his attorneys with the location of the handgun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJane Doe and John Doe are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, he faces up to life in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789053623\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:19:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789053563\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-264\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMario Israel Barraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gallup Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Fatal Shooting\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/gallup-man-pleads-guilty-charges-fatal-shooting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"458918f9-8a05-4a16-9277-246ca66a5c51\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChristopher McInturf, 56, of Newark, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the crimes in February.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca class=\\\\u0022ck-anchor\\\\u0022 id=\\\\u0022_Hlk223007491\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in February 2025, the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center referred an investigative lead regarding McInturf using CashApp to pay for child pornography. Further investigation revealed that McInturf met an individual online who he believed to be in Paraguay. McInturf would pay the person typically $80 or $86 for bundles of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 2025, McInturf messaged the individual asking for \\\\u201csomething new? Rape is good. 10 to 15 yr\\\\u2026\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInvestigators discovered child sexual abuse material of prepubescent female victims on McInturf\\\\u2019s digital devices. For example, one video was a 70-minute compilation of 55 children being sexually assaulted who were approximately two to 10 years old.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn a thumb drive, McInturf had an explicit photo of a minor previously identified as the victim in a case against the defendant in Licking County. McInturf was convicted in 2011 in Licking County of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in his local case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcInturf was charged federally in February 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:26:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789057597\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:24:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789057475\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Repeat sex offender from Licking County sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for new child pornography crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/repeat-sex-offender-licking-county-sentenced-more-19-years-federal-prison-new-child\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3dbb15f0-5a3c-4a59-84f6-cf67b5433311\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENORFOLK, Va. \\\\u2013 A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in April, May and June of 2025, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Andre Lawrence Shorts, 35. After a fourth transaction was arranged, law enforcement arrested Shorts a short distance from his residence. From Shorts\\\\u2019 vehicle, investigators recovered 199.45 grams of cocaine, 7.25 grams of methamphetamine, 11 methamphetamine tablets, 47 amphetamine tablets, three capsules containing a heroin\\\\/fentanyl mixture, baggies, a scale, two cell phones, $546, and a stolen handgun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFrom Shorts\\\\u2019 residence, investigators recovered 251.97 grams of cocaine and $1,030. After Shorts was turned over to the Virginia Beach Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office for booking, a deputy discovered another 27.68 grams of cocaine concealed in a body cavity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-42.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:09:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789060192\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:09:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789060178\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndre Lawrence Shorts, 35, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Virginia Beach cocaine dealer sentenced to eight years in prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/virginia-beach-cocaine-dealer-sentenced-eight-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"50bd3c99-e5a9-49aa-b0cd-41e7098bc6ec\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789048448\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - S\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nt are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:06:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789063603\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Carolina\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:01:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789063278\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sc\\\\/pr\\\\/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56e7b3ab-5021-464e-a77c-d6c6bd3d03d1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAll six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver\\\\u2019s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJENAY DAVIS (\\\\u201cDAVIS\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECHRISTOPHER BRYAN BURNS (\\\\u201cBURNS\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESHAKERA MILLIEN (\\\\u201cMILLIEN\\\\u201d) \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epleaded guilty on September 9, 2026. The other defendants\\\\u2014\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMAHMOUD ALHATTAB (\\\\u201cALHATTAB\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJONATHAN PARSONS (\\\\u201cPARSONS\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMARLINE ROBERTS (\\\\u201cROBERTS\\\\u201d)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epleaded guilty on July 29, 2026. All six defendants appeared before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, a restaurant owner, led a scheme in which Commercial Driver\\\\u2019s License (\\\\u201cCDL\\\\u201d) applicants paid him an average of $5,000 to obtain unearned\\\\u0026nbsp;CDLs. The scheme enabled applicants to bypass all three\\\\u0026nbsp;main federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process: the knowledge test, entry-level driver training, and the skills test.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe commercial transportation industry is a vital component of this nation\\\\u2019s economy. As a result, the competency and fitness of commercial drivers to safely and knowledgeably operate those vehicles on our streets and highways, is vital to the welfare of all the other drivers in our communities,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana David I. Courcelle. \\\\u201cSolely to satisfy their own greed, the perpetrators of this sweeping fraudulent scheme callously endangered the lives of other drivers by allowing commercial drivers, who were woefully unprepared to safely navigate travel hazards, to operate on America\\\\u2019s roadways.\\\\u0026nbsp; However, today\\\\u2019s convictions demonstrate the combined mission of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General\\\\u2019s Southern Region, to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes and to keep American roads safe for commuters.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEvery defendant in this case was willing to endanger the motoring public by giving unqualified people authorization to operate commercial vehicles,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\\\u201cOur partners at the DOT-OIG, Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles, and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General helped us build a strong case for prosecutors. We thank the U.S. Attorney\\\\u0027s Office for their unwavering support in our fight against dangerous fraud.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe convictions announced today underscore the grave danger posed by schemes that undermine the integrity of the commercial driver\\\\u2019s licensing process. Deliberately circumventing federally mandated safety requirements is not only unlawful\\\\u2014it puts everyone on our nation\\\\u2019s roadways at risk,\\\\u201d stated Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General\\\\u2019s Southern Region. \\\\u201cWe will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively investigate these schemes, dismantle them, and hold accountable those who put the traveling public at risk for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe knowledge test, administered at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), is a written examination covering vehicle safety systems, emergency\\\\u0026nbsp;situations,\\\\u0026nbsp;procedures for various\\\\u0026nbsp;maneuvers, and extreme driving conditions. Passing this test results in the issuance of a commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit, which is required before an applicant can proceed to training and the skills test.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo bypass the knowledge test, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E bribed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, employees at the Donaldsonville, Louisiana OMV office. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E typically sent \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E a photograph of an applicant\\\\u2019s driver\\\\u2019s license via cell phone, along with any requested endorsements, such as a school bus endorsement. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E then completed the applicant\\\\u2019s knowledge test. They used their cell phones to conduct online research to answer test questions. For example, one on occasion, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E visited webpages on brake\\\\u0026nbsp;inspection, vehicle fires, hazardous materials,\\\\u0026nbsp;and how to stop a skidding trailer. Similarly, on one occasion, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E conducted online\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Esearches for\\\\u0026nbsp;emergency-controlled\\\\u0026nbsp;braking, hydraulic brake failure, and pre-trip\\\\u0026nbsp;vehicle inspections.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E falsified the test results, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E would bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office, where \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E issued a commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit based on the fraudulent scores.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E allowed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E to bring applicants into the OMV office through a non-public side door and permitted him access to non-public areas. On some occasions, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E even went behind the counter and operated the OMV camera to take applicants\\\\u2019 photographs for the permits. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E paid \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E in cash and provided them with meals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter passing the knowledge test and obtaining a commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit, most CDL applicants are required to complete entry\\\\u2011level driver training, which includes demonstrating proficiency in operating a commercial vehicle on public roads.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo bypass the training requirement, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E bribed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, each of whom operated a truck\\\\u2011driver training business. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E typically sent \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E a photograph of an applicant\\\\u2019s commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit via cell phone, thereby providing the information to create false training records. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, in exchange for payments from \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, reported in a federal database that applicants successfully completed training when, in fact, no training occurred.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe final major step in the CDL process is the skills test, administered by state\\\\u2011authorized examiners who\\\\u0026nbsp;are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Federal regulations require the skills test to include a pre\\\\u2011trip vehicle inspection, vehicle control\\\\u0026nbsp;skills, and safety\\\\u2011related on\\\\u2011road driving\\\\u0026nbsp;skills.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo defeat the skills test requirement, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E again bribed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who, in addition to being trainers, were certified by Louisiana to administer the test. They falsely reported to the State that applicants passed the skills test when the applicants had not taken it. Early in the scheme, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E would pose as an applicant and drive the test vehicle to make it appear that \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was conducting a legitimate test. Eventually, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E concluded that such precautions were unnecessary, and thereafter \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E routinely entered fraudulent test results with neither \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E nor the applicant present. On some occasions, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E paid another examiner, defendant \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EROBERTS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, to assist by creating fake score sheets to support \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s fraudulent test entries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter an applicant received false skills test scores, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E typically alerted \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that the applicant would be returning to the OMV office to obtain the CDL. Because many applicants were not proficient in English, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E sometimes informed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E of the language barrier. For example, on one occasion he texted \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that an applicant\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cis\\\\u0026nbsp;outside [the OMV office] to get his CDL\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cNo English,\\\\u201d meaning the applicant did not speak English.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who had been in the scheme for years, met with \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E at \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E restaurant to discuss \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E joining. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E initially agreed to compensation of $400 per fraudulent skills test entry. However, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E later complained that the amount was too low, texting \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that this was why \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u201conly agreed to 3 or 4 [false skills test entries] per week.\\\\u201d \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E then agreed to increase \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s payment to $500 per entry and to assign \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E more\\\\u0026nbsp;skills tests to enter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo conceal the scheme, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E occasionally rescheduled purported skills tests to avoid the appearance that applicants tested in bad weather. For example, in February 2021, when asked whether an applicant was \\\\u201cgood to go\\\\u201d to the OMV, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E who\\\\u0026nbsp;replied, \\\\u201cNaw, we couldn\\\\u2019t do any testing\\\\u0026nbsp;today because of the\\\\u0026nbsp;frozen roads\\\\u0026nbsp;up here. I couldn\\\\u2019t pass him, it\\\\u0026nbsp;wouldn\\\\u2019t look right.\\\\u201d Similarly, in December 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u201cI had\\\\u0026nbsp;to cancel test\\\\u0026nbsp;today. Raining bad. Will reset Tuesday.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages showed a desire to increase the volume of applicants. For example, in January 2021, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E told \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that he had approximately 20 individuals seeking CDLs and that \\\\u201c[t]his year it will be a good year,\\\\u201d to which \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E replied, \\\\u201cHeck yeah\\\\u201d; \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u201cI have to[o] many\\\\u201d applicants to which \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;replied, \\\\u201cThat\\\\u0027s a good thing\\\\u201d; and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted, \\\\u201cKeep them coming!\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;to which \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E replied, \\\\u201cWill do.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;Similarly, in December 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E discussed targeting out\\\\u2011of\\\\u2011state applicants, whom they believed would pay more. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Etexted, \\\\u201cMy original plan funnel people from Texas and Florida\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cGet it set up and we roll\\\\u201d; \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Ereplied, \\\\u201cthe door is open now to Texas the guy you did has over 15 guys they have permit\\\\u201d; and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Etexted, \\\\u201cSweet!\\\\u201d; \\\\u201cline em up\\\\u201d and \\\\u201csend some to\\\\u0026nbsp;[\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E]\\\\u0026nbsp;so we spread it around.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom August 2020 through February 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E caused at least 124 people to fraudulently receive CDLs. During that time, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E issued at least 108 commercial learner\\\\u2019s permits in exchange for payments from \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E. Also, during that period, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E caused at least 118\\\\u0026nbsp;people to\\\\u0026nbsp;fraudulently\\\\u0026nbsp;receive CDLs by\\\\u0026nbsp;providing each person with a false training\\\\u0026nbsp;entry, or a false skills test\\\\u0026nbsp;entry, or both. In early 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EROBERTS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E created false score sheets for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E on seven occasions.\\\\u0026nbsp;From August 2023 through January 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E caused at least 18 people to obtain fraudulent CDLs by\\\\u0026nbsp;providing each person with a false skills test\\\\u0026nbsp;entry, and, for some of them, also providing false training entries. From March 2023 through February 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E issued at least 14 commercial learner\\\\u2019s permits in exchange for payments from \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe six defendants each pleaded guilty to Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, which is punishable by up to 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for October 28, 2026, for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EROBERTS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E; for December 2, 2026, for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E; and December 9, 2026, for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General investigated\\\\u0026nbsp;this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle thanked the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Public Safety Services for their valuable assistance in the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is\\\\u0026nbsp;in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:21:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789064467\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:58:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789063083\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAll six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver\\\\u2019s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Defendants Convicted for Scheme Enabling More Than 100 Drivers, Many Not Proficient in English, to Fraudulently Obtain Commercial Driver\\\\u2019s Licenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/defendants-convicted-scheme-enabling-more-100-drivers-many-not-proficient-english\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7446df0c-4e85-4b05-b471-47cab5e92a5a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDES MOINES, Iowa \\\\u2013 Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between March 2025 and September 11, 2025, the charged defendants obtained and distributed methamphetamine within Des Moines and elsewhere. The more than six-month investigation included controlled purchases of methamphetamine and concluded with the execution of more than 50 search warrants on September\\\\u0026nbsp;11, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants involved in this conspiracy include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e72ad587066074cfc5f18f4e1319f354c\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECole Anthony Langford, 42, sentenced to a 30-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6e7dc1cb2d5cf332c92ee13d53252695\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKenneth Donald Stockman, 44, sentenced to a 12-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2c3b4e84318e5bc5b81df0090f1d83a0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJoshua Andrew Rankin, 38, sentenced to a 200-month prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3fea26103efc6dcc9a777142b5f6e3be\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJames \\\\u201cJimmy\\\\u201d Stephen Waters Jr., 61, sentenced to a 78\\\\u2011month prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ea42672fbe68852841354d7fb92c6c751\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETodd Allen Miller Jr., 32, sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e164a8f924d0abe3995985192b2a061aa\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESamantha Sue Baldridge, 34, sentenced to a six-year prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e7fd659d00b27d8372a4e9c85c7c0abd6\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESimon Anaya Sanchez, 50, sentenced to a 190-month prison term, followed by a six-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1209269e6323dfbef62f29f7ba0c13b0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJason Lee Baxter-Blakely, 38, sentenced to a 100-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb81a10a45636289160ef3aa9d5b0dcc1\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJessica Renae Gleason, 43, sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; and\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0a83029063ff54251cba58f203325152\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESara Ann Bowers, 40, of Des Moines, sentenced to a 10-year prison term, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time they conspired to distribute methamphetamine:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6547471e6ee301002d234234f988b20f\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELangford was on absconder status for state eluding and drug trafficking offenses, following his parole from state custody after serving less than one year of his sentences.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1dd5b7e4348e875bbf6ed77b73e27bbf\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERankin was on absconder status for two state drug trafficking offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2c9b4a9ea231ce83c1571fb38e97f904\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMiller was on parole for three state drug trafficking offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb06ee9497f7eb15b0459880814e2f0d7\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESanchez had a prior federal drug conviction from the Southern District of Iowa and had been discharged from supervised release in 2021.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e446be7625f918efa3b1a87bd82f91403\\\\u0022\\\\u003EGleason was on parole for a state drug trafficking offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Marshall County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Marshalltown Police Department, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Tri-County Drug Task Force, and dozens of others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:49:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152555\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:40:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152040\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDES MOINES, Iowa \\\\u2013 Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"10 Des Moines Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdia\\\\/pr\\\\/10-des-moines-individuals-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"96173b36-b1ae-4c74-a4fd-239b0a53435c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Adam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThrough his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the United States Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence underscores that we always stand ready\\\\u2014even years later and on the other side of an ocean\\\\u2014to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAdam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,\\\\u2\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.246140234
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01QSKyLArumuiHXmBAeodwz8

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases page 3", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0042

(no result)

Tool Result E0043

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":50,\"page\":3},\"executionTime\":2.3376498222351074},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Butler, Mo., man has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECraig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr. to multiple federal charges. This plea is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, Johnson was hired at Community First Bank in 2022 as a Vice President and Loan Officer. While Johnson was employed with Community First Bank, Johnson was also a pastor with\\u0026nbsp;a church in El Dorado Springs, Mo. until he was removed in 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in at least 2024, Johnson began to request \\u201cinvestments\\u201d from various individuals for the purpose of buying cattle which would be later sold for profit. The deal varied from person to person but involved Johnson purchasing cattle and selling the cattle for a profit within a short time frame. Johnson told individuals he needed help investing and requested they pay him funds. Johnson worked with some of the \\u201cinvestors\\u201d to take out a loan at Community\\u0026nbsp;First Bank through Johnson and give the proceeds to Johnson. Johnson did not tell anyone at Community First Bank that he was benefiting from the loan proceeds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJohnson did\\u0026nbsp;not use the funds to purchase cattle but instead deposited the funds in an investment account where he repeatedly traded in small-capitalization and micro-cap securities ultimately losing all the funds. Johnson served as loan officer for approximately 29 loans and lines of credit at Community\\u0026nbsp;First Bank totaling approximately $4,476,156.22.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter receiving the victims\\u2019 funds, Johnson did not use the funds for proposed cattle sales. Instead, he used the victims\\u2019 funds to invest in\\u0026nbsp;high-risk stocks via his personal investment account. To further and conceal his scheme, Johnson used some of the victim\\u2019s funds to pay earlier investors in the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt various times between April 2024 and until Johnson\\u2019s termination in February\\u0026nbsp;2026, Johnson used his position as a loan officer and\\/or his status in the community to defraud individuals and a financial institution of at least $9,395,882.22. Johnson used his position at Community First Bank to obtain loans using\\u0026nbsp;the identity of other people. In February 2026, at least three loans were created in various individuals\\u2019\\u0026nbsp;names where they were not aware of or approved by these people. The three loans were created to\\u0026nbsp;pay off other loans Johnson created in the name of another person.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Aug. 5, 2024, Johnson completed an application for a loan for $1,447,000 through a financial institution in Jefferson City, Mo. The purpose of the loan was to purchase cow and calf pairs and refinance two loans.\\u0026nbsp;On Aug. 13, 2024, the loan was approved for $1,447,150. Of the loan proceeds, $46,809.93 was used to pay off a loan at a bank.\\u0026nbsp; $198,714.46 was used to pay off another loan at a bank and $1,201,475.61 was provided in a check to Johnson and was supposed to be used to purchase 400 head of cattle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn\\u0026nbsp;Aug. 14, 2024, the loan proceeds ($1,201,475.61) were deposited into a bank account. After the funds were deposited, there was not a large purchase of cattle as agreed upon in the loan. The funds instead were used to repay investors and for personal use.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Aug. 7, 2025, Johnson completed an application for another loan for $1,500,000 through another financial institution. The purpose of the loan was to purchase 550 cow and calf pairs. On Aug.\\u0026nbsp;13, 2025, the loan proceeds ($1,500,000)\\u0026nbsp;were deposited into Johnson\\u2019s account. Between Aug. 15, 2025, and Aug. 19, 2025,\\u0026nbsp;Johnson transferred $1,450,000 into his investment account.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Aug. 19, 2025, Johnson completed an application for a third loan for $900,000. The purpose of the of the loan was to purchase 300 cow and calf pairs. The loan was approved for $900,150. The loan proceeds ($900,000) were deposited into Johnson\\u2019s bank account. Johnson transferred $900,000 into his personal investment account.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter receiving the loan proceeds for the second and third loans, Johnson provided a bill of sale dated Aug. 30, 2025, to a financial institution. The bill of sale appeared to show that Johnson purchased 850 cow and calf pairs for $2,825,000 from a livestock company in Evanston,\\u0026nbsp;Utah. The company did not sell 850 cow and calf pairs to Johnson in August 2025. The owner of the company stated the name on the bill of sale appeared to be his, but the signature was not.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJohnson did not use the combined funds from the three loans ($3,601,475.61) to purchase cattle as stated on the loan documentation but instead transferred the funds to his personal\\u0026nbsp; investment account and to make payments to previous victims who believed Johnson made good on their cattle deals.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder federal statutes, Johnson is subject to the following sentences:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ef35e9b2088bbb5f2ca8181fd70ac3acd\\u0022\\u003EWire Fraud - up to 20 years in federal prison without parole\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e044d884519ef5af95801e7a536bbada0\\u0022\\u003EBank Fraud - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e537b444bf2a6f070fde53f9d2b68131c\\u0022\\u003EAggravated Identity Theft \\u2013 a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ef4a4f1e252366163710dab6f6732cea9\\u0022\\u003EFalse Statement to a Financial Institution - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker.\\u0026nbsp; It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement Division\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:17:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788974258\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:54:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972881\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECraig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., has pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving an alleged cattle-buying scheme.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Butler, Missouri Bank Vice President and Former Pastor Pleads Guilty to Financial Fraud Involving an Alleged Cattle-Buying Scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/butler-missouri-bank-vice-president-and-former-pastor-pleads-guilty-financial-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"8d95d26f-8dda-4ff6-9e55-21adc5d30571\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ELUBBOCK, Texas \\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury in Lubbock returned an indictment today charging Allegra Fey Mora, 28, with enticement of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her students.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe full force of my office will be brought to bear on teachers, administrators, and school districts who perpetuate a cycle of abuse in our schools,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\u201cNo one who abuses a position of authority over a child in the Northern District of Texas will escape scrutiny.\\u0026nbsp; As I said before, Project Safe Schools is here to stay, and I\\u2019d encourage teachers, administrators and school districts to report any and all abuse that has occurred in the past to my office.\\u0026nbsp; If we find out about it on our own, the consequences will be more severe.\\u0026nbsp; And to North Texas parents, we will continue to fight for you to put bad actors in prison who abuse kids and create a culture of concealment in our North Texas schools.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cProtecting children from exploitation is among HSI\\u2019s highest priorities, especially when allegations involve an abuse of trust by someone in a position of authority,\\u201d said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. \\u201cHSI Dallas will continue working alongside our partners to identify, investigate and support the prosecution of those who target minors. Every child deserves to be safe from exploitation, including in the places where they should feel most protected.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, from October 2025 to May 2026, Mora allegedly knowingly used a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, including a cellular telephone, to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Texas Rangers initiated an inquiry in June 2026 after receiving a report concerning possible inappropriate sexual conduct between Mora and a 17\\u2011year\\u2011old Muleshoe High School student. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted interviews, collected electronic evidence and executed search warrants related to the case. The evidence reviewed by investigators corroborates alleged explicit communications and conduct underlying the federal charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMora was arrested by state authorities earlier this year and was released pending further state proceedings. If convicted, Mora faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Texas Rangers conducted the investigation with forensic assistance from Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam from the Lubbock Division is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Schools is a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. Project Safe Schools directly targets failures in mandatory reporting of educator misconduct and combats the practice known as \\u201cpassing the trash,\\u201d where educators with known misconduct issues move between schools without disclosure of their prior wrongdoing. Project Safe Schools\\u2019 goals are to:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eec3cecaffcc83d8353f96458d36378c8\\u0022\\u003EEnforce mandatory reporting requirements tied to federal education programs.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0042bae4a58f55920a2ade4e85027ca4\\u0022\\u003EHold school districts, administrators and teachers accountable through civil and criminal enforcement.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ecf1886fdb8aad2cd3604651c2ee847d4\\u0022\\u003EIncrease transparency in educator misconduct investigations.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ee82e83849faf7c27593c2cda44e1cdab\\u0022\\u003EStrengthen student safety across schools in North Texas.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E###\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T21:57:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789005469\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:44:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789001041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Project Safe Schools: Federal grand jury charges former high school teacher with enticement offense for alleged sexual relations with a minor\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/project-safe-schools-federal-grand-jury-charges-former-high-school-teacher-enticement\",\"uuid\":\"baf8eeb3-8fce-4f9a-a95a-7a76f3aaf067\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\u2013 Lacresha Vining (\\u201cVINING\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, age 27,\\u0026nbsp;of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701,\\u0026nbsp;announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Court also imposed a mandatory $10 special assessment fee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2023, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EVINING\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E knowingly obstructed the passage of mail while employed as a postal carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General in investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; *\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:57:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788998247\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:52:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788997951\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\u2013 LACRESHA VINING (\\u201cVINING\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, age 27,\\u0026nbsp;of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701,\\u0026nbsp;announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Postal Employee Sentenced For Obstruction of U.S. Mail\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"351fcc4e-1f5b-4490-b848-db30da15059a\",\"name\":\"Public Corruption\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/former-postal-employee-sentenced-obstruction-us-mail\",\"uuid\":\"3db05c33-0f48-44d4-8fdd-b09cb7fa00f4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962761\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY \\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959888\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) \\u2013 Washington Division,\\u0026nbsp;and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on February 4, 2025, a BPD detective, monitoring a CitiWatch Camera, observed Fallin displaying characteristics of an armed person. The detective saw Fallin adjusting the front waistband of his pants while in a convenience store.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThen Fallin exited the store and approached the driver\\u2019s side of a white vehicle with an unknown male who was speaking to a female driver. During the conversation, the officer noticed Fallin repeatedly checking and adjusting an object in the front waistband of his pants. Then the detective saw Fallin walk to the front of the car and pull out a black handgun and hold it against his side.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFallin then put the firearm back in his waistband and adjusted his pants. After the white vehicle left, Fallin went to his vehicle and entered the driver\\u2019s seat. Shortly after, BPD officers arrived on the scene to apprehend Fallin.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter law enforcement arrested Fallin, officers asked him if he owned a permit for the firearm. But Fallin denied having the firearm. Then law enforcement searched the vehicle and uncovered a loaded firearm that contained 12 rounds of ammunition underneath the driver\\u2019s seat.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, law enforcement discovered a United States Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key that fell from the driver\\u2019s side visor onto the driver\\u2019s seat. An Arrow Key is a government-issued master key that enables postal carriers to open cluster box units, blue collection boxes, and other USPS-secured mail infrastructure.\\u0026nbsp; Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that the recovered Arrow Key was stolen from a postal carrier on February 3.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the\\u0026nbsp;USPIS and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the\\u0026nbsp;Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O\\u2019Donohue III,\\u0026nbsp;who prosecuted the federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:04:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788977097\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788976989\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Baltimore Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Stolen Postal Service Key\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/baltimore-man-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearm-and-stolen-postal-service-key\",\"uuid\":\"82f89b0c-382e-4a12-b21d-b58b7b9c17ad\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EGAINESVILLE \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cSocial Security fraud and identity theft strike at the heart of public trust and economic security. This alien\\u2019s alleged conduct not only jeopardized the integrity of our nation\\u2019s borders, but it also exposed unwitting victims to significant financial and legal issues stemming from the unauthorized use of their personal information,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cMy office remains committed to protecting victims and holding accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCounterfeit identification documents, including social security cards, are instruments of fraud that can upend victims\\u2019 lives, fuel criminal activity, and erode the integrity of our immigration, employment, and financial systems,\\u201d said\\u0026nbsp;Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. \\u201cHSI will continue working alongside our partners to disrupt fraud schemes designed to profit from stolen identities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 11, 2026 and on May 19, 2026, Alvarez allegedly sold an undercover agent three Social Security cards in exchange for $750 per card. Following the transactions, Alvarez allegedly sent the undercover agent the corresponding birth dates for the individuals listed on the cards.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAgents set up an August 5, 2026 meeting with Alvarez to purchase two additional Social Security cards. When Alvarez arrived to complete the transaction, agents arrested him on a federal criminal complaint and seized four additional Social Security cards from him. During a subsequent federal search warrant executed at Alvarez\\u2019s residence, agents found a semi-automatic pistol. Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (\\u201cSSA-OIG\\u201d) determined that all the cards purchased or seized from Alvarez were counterfeit. SSA-OIG further confirmed the Social Security numbers on each card were legitimate and associated with real people.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing his arrest on the complaint, a federal magistrate judge denied the United States\\u2019s motion to detain Alvarez. The United States immediately filed an emergency motion to stay and revoke the release order, arguing that there was a serious risk that Alvarez would flee. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story granted both motions and ordered that Alvarez be detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service without bond through the conclusion of the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, a grand jury returned an 18-count federal indictment charging Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, 41, of Mexico, with seven counts of Social Security fraud, seven counts of production of false identification documents, three counts of transfer of false identification documents, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Today, a grand jury added two counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carries a mandatory minimum of two years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMembers of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government\\u2019s burden to prove the defendant\\u2019s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with valuable assistance from the SSA-OIG.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:38:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788979090\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:35:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788978956\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDerly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges for Identity Theft, Producing and Selling Counterfeit Social Security Cards, and Unlawful Gun Possession\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-faces-federal-charges-identity-theft-producing-and-selling-counterfeit\",\"uuid\":\"ccb08ed0-9cdc-4805-a087-34d57ad48f9e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough\\u2019s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EScarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981008\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:08:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788980919\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1034\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/maryland-woman-sentenced-prison-11m-tax-refund-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"892bb09b-bee4-487e-bac3-799806955291\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKANSAS CITY, KAN. \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) provides an update of cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC). PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the commitment to prosecuting cases related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, USAO-KS staffs with federal prosecutors who specialize in seeking justice in these types of offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June, July, and August, USAO-KS indicted defendants on child exploitation related offenses while achieving substantial sentences for defendants post-conviction.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EIndictment\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJonathan Arnold, 47, of Leavenworth was indicted on three counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EStephen Crook, 34, Leavenworth of was indicted on one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor under 12 years of age.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Reno, 58, of Lenexa was indicted on two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETyller White, 24, of Parsons was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a child \\u2013 attempted production of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EColton Wiggins, 25, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPlea\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody S. Bingham, 24, of Derby pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWilliam \\u201cBill\\u201d Bright, 58, of Hutchinson pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames D. Fishbaugh, 53, of Blue Springs, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDean Glovier, 28, of Topeka, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\u2013 possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBebak Gurung, 26, of Fort Riley, Kansas, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation-production of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETyson Hale, 26, of Mayetta, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of minor in Indian Country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDylan Jamescupp, 34, of Ottawa pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EZachery Leslie, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMichael Steven Podrybau, 43, of Alton pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdam T. Umstead, 42, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMichael Eugene Watley, 58, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentencing\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua Craig Abel, 44, of Topeka was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release, after a jury convicted him of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\u2013 possession of child pornography. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Donald Dube, 40, Topeka was sentenced to 90 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\u2013 possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGarrett Gayoso, 25, of Baxter Springs was sentenced to 222 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count production of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETommie Earnest Giles, 53, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBlake Nolan, 21, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGavin Onuffer, 28, of Haysville was sentenced to 121 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDennis Lee Hamilton, 45, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced 360 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Mark Jones, 35, of Shawnee was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJeffrey T. Lyons, 33, of Olathe was sentenced to 264 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVictor Ortiz, 49, of Junction City was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\u2013 production of child pornography\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdam Charles Pfeiffer, 36, of Wichita was sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERonald Waltrip, 62, of Haysville was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child \\u2013 production of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:52:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969148\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kansas\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:29:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788964167\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) provides an update of cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District of Kansas releases update on child exploitation cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ks\\/pr\\/district-kansas-releases-quarterly-update-child-exploitation-cases-prosecuted-under-0\",\"uuid\":\"d80dfc7c-45ba-43ab-b184-950b9c1019f5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E plead guilty on May 29, 2026, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1347, and was sentenced to ten years in prison on October 23, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained fraudulent doctors\\u2019 orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries\\u2019 treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;submitted over $174\\u0026nbsp;million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55\\u0026nbsp;million in reimbursements.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBefore \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was indicted, law enforcement officers seized several of his assets that had been purchased with the proceeds of his scheme. In its recent order, the Court ordered the forfeiture of the contents of an investment account and a bank account held in the name of a company controlled by \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, along with three vehicles purchased with proceeds of the offense, namely, a Land Rover Range Rover, a BMW, and a Ford F-150. In total, the forfeited accounts contained a value totaling approximately $7,051,089.08.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAsset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that allows the United States to take property derived from, or used to commit, federal crimes. It is designed to strip criminals of the proceeds of their offenses, remove the instruments used to carry them out, and- where victims can be identified- return recovered funds to the people who were harmed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of\\u0026nbsp;the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, handled the forfeiture component.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995545\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994977\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of Approximately $7 Million and Three Vehicles Following Conviction of Jamie P. McNamara\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/federal-court-orders-forfeiture-approximately-7-million-and-three-vehicles-following\",\"uuid\":\"3de0624c-5732-4481-ac73-96d37a2b6035\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461021\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"594836a0-31db-4c53-a6b4-f62cc81c2e8e\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EMemphis Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Trafficking 20 Lbs Of Meth To Marshall County\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOXFORD, MS. \\u2013 United States Attorney Scott Leary announced two separate convictions resulting from Homeland Security Task Force investigations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlbert Ardell Scott, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Mississippi.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe DEA conducted this Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation. According to court documents, Scott made the methamphetamine delivery from the Memphis area to Byhalia, MS, in May of 2025. Scott was part of a multi-defendant conspiracy which operated in Tennessee and Mississippi. Several members remain currently charged by indictment, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Scott to 120 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ETupelo Man Sentenced To Over 15 Years For Possessing Hundreds of Meth \\u0026amp;Fentanyl Pills\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn another case, James Homan, 44, of Tupelo, was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI conducted this HSTF investigation, which resulted in the seizure of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine and over 100 grams of fentanyl. Homan had a lengthy criminal history.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Homan to 188 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the cases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, \\u201cHomeland Security Task Forces were created by Executive Order in 2025. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels and drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States and abroad. We are again seeing the great law enforcement results from the HSTF initiative. Methamphetamine is among the most addictive and destructive drugs this country has ever faced. Likewise, one fentanyl pill can be fatal, and in this case enough fentanyl was seized to create thousands of pills. The FBI and DEA took these drugs off the streets of the Northern District of Mississippi, and today our communities are safer. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case. They are valuable assets to the Northern District of Mississippi.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecial Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, \\u0022Homan intended to distribute massive quantities of deadly methamphetamine and fentanyl pills throughout Mississippi, putting our communities at risk and destroying lives in the process. Today\\u2019s sentence should serve as a warning to others who engage in this dangerous and illegal activity: illicit drugs will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting public safety and holding those who threaten our communities accountable for their criminal actions.\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese operations and convictions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis not only on cartel crimes, but also on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:52:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789134771\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\",\"name\":\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T09:32:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789133574\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"202609-05\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAlbert Ardell Scott of Memphis was sentenced to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of meth to Mississippi.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames Homan of Tupelo was sentenced to over 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 600 grams of meth and over 100 grams of fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Homeland Security Task Force Investigations Lead to Sentencings for Drug Traffickers \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndms\\/pr\\/homeland-security-task-force-investigations-lead-sentencings-drug-traffickers\",\"uuid\":\"abb5e122-59c3-444f-bcba-720855dbe4a5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\u201ctimknight444,\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant results for Knight\\u2019s Instagram account and collected two J-Pay tablets at Central State Prison. One tablet was found in Knight\\u2019s locker and had been altered but did not contain CSAM. Investigators found the second tablet with Knight when they confiscated it. Investigators confirmed that the tablet was altered and that it contained CSAM. Also, the device contained Google search histories for information on abusing, trafficking, and raping children. Investigators found 3,410 unique artifacts of CSAM material that include images of prepubescent children. Most images came from five different video series.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Brown and Julius Jefferson are prosecuting the case for the Government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975784\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:41:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975664\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"State Inmate with Child Sexual Abuse Material Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdga\\/pr\\/state-inmate-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"9b7861e6-d832-48a0-9103-ef51184b8c64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHAMMOND \\u2013 Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMcClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case.\\u0026nbsp; Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois.\\u0026nbsp; Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cRecidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud.\\u0026nbsp; They\\u0026nbsp;used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased.\\u0026nbsp;In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana.\\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.\\u0026nbsp;Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana.\\u0026nbsp; Thanks to the partnership of the\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:37:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072641\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"27450eca-820f-409c-ae9c-7d89d90bef92\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:30:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072221\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Gary Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Postal Money Order Fraud Scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndin\\/pr\\/gary-man-sentenced-15-months-prison-postal-money-order-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"f38a7066-e93f-4ad3-9ff0-1404f5b99ae6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETyree Saunders, 21, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that that an undercover officer made a purchase of various controlled substances, including crack cocaine, directly from the defendant. Based on that and other information, the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained authority to intercept Saunders\\u2019 communications, which revealed that Saunders was regularly selling crack cocaine and used a firearm to threaten a co-conspirator. The investigators obtained a warrant to search the defendant\\u2019s home, where authorities found crack cocaine and a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Hardy scheduled sentencing for January 13, 2027. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Saunders.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:45:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788983140\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:44:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788983040\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Violations\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/west-mifflin-man-pleads-guilty-drug-and-firearm-violations-0\",\"uuid\":\"c52f2739-d086-4bf2-94a0-c307275f3893\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHOUSTON \\u2013 A 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAuthorities have now taken Alla Nowowiejski into custody. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett at 2 p.m. today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients to assist them with establishing or adjusting their work status and applying for work visas. However, she allegedly never submitted the applications or only submitted them in part.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment further alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents or reference numbers associated with active immigration cases unrelated to her clients. She allegedly used the documents and reference number to make the clients believe immigration authorities were processing their applications.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Homeland Security \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service \\u2013 OIG conducted the investigation with assistance of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Harris County Constable\\u2019s Office - Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice has created the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/opa\\/pr\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-1.govdelivery.com\\/cl0\\/https:%2f%2fwww.justice.gov%2fopa%2fpr%2facting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement%3futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery\\/1\\/0100019d6f561d1d-a5ad8fc3-ccfc-4d37-a8ed-\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022node\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u0022e6ae8384-0ce7-4217-8137-6de5cc8173ad\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022canonical\\u0022\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement\\u0026nbsp;Division\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:04:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077845\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788998760\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Immigration attorney arrested in alleged fraud scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/immigration-attorney-arrested-alleged-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"d0a1b5a1-2f8a-4a33-a5d8-a3aeea64ea41\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 5, 2025, the Buffalo Police Department, ATF and FBI executed a search warrant at Carter\\u2019s Jackson Avenue residence in Sloan, during which they seized two loaded pistols and approximately 25 pounds of suspected marijuana. Carter was convicted of felony charges in January 2010, in Erie County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:11:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995482\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:07:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges\",\"uuid\":\"c903a18b-d277-4668-824e-e3b2e52b722c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs a result of the outstanding work by the FBI, our local law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Johnson has been held accountable for his role in a large-scale narcotics distribution operation involving fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and for distributing fentanyl and cocaine that caused three individuals to overdose in 2020,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cWe hope that today\\u2019s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims who thankfully survived and their families, and sends a clear message that those who distribute drugs, particularly that cause overdoses, will face severe consequences.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u0027s sentencing of Gary Johnson serves as a stark reminder that those who distribute drugs in New York will be held accountable.\\u0026nbsp; The FBI New York Long Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force works tirelessly to bring drug traffickers to justice.\\u0026nbsp; Those who endeavor to follow in Johnson\\u0027s footsteps will be stopped in their tracks, so that future victims may be spared,\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe drug epidemic is fueled by people who are focused on making a profit, without regard for the devastating consequences their actions can have when those drugs reach individuals who ultimately overdose,\\u201d stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cI want to commend EDNY for ensuring Johnson will be spending time in prison for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to halt the flow of narcotics and hold drug dealers accountable for the selfish choices that put lives at risk.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween June 2013 and November 2020, Johnson, a leader in the G-Shine set of the Bloods based in Suffolk County, sold fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout Long Island.\\u0026nbsp; The drugs distributed by the defendant caused multiple victims to overdose, including three individuals who suffered overdoses in March and May 2020.\\u0026nbsp; The jury convicted Johnson of multiple narcotics-distribution offenses, including three counts of distributing narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJohnson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp; That conviction arose from the recovery of a semi-automatic firearm from Johnson\\u2019s residence during the execution of a search warrant.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office\\u2019s Long Island Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa, Stephen Petraeus, and Mark E. Misorek are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Dejah Turla, Rebecca Roth, and Adam Bernard, as well as Victim Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGARY JOHNSON\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge: 43\\u003Cbr\\u003EBellport, New York\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-518 (S-2) (JMA)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:27:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788978474\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:20:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788978041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Bloods Gang Leader Sentenced to 280 Months\\u2019 Imprisonment for Narcotics Distribution Resulting in Three Overdoses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/bloods-gang-leader-sentenced-280-months-imprisonment-narcotics-distribution-resulting\",\"uuid\":\"f5a73132-7d01-453a-801e-a28954c3f449\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460771\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"24fe11d9-268d-47d4-b0a9-235c1987a13a\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460776\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"21d29d57-4054-4d9a-a7b4-8731071005d3\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\u2013 An Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (\\u201cUSPS\\u201d), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELeslie Blackwood, 25, of Irvington, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an Information charging him with conspiracy to steal checks from the mail.\\u0026nbsp;Verly Antenor, 24, of Roselle Park, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty on July 16, 2026, before Judge Salas to the same charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to documents filed in the cases and statements made in court:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween September 2021 to March 2022, Blackwood and Antenor agreed with other individuals to steal checks from the mail.\\u0026nbsp;They possessed and used stolen or misappropriated arrow keys to access USPS collection boxes in Livingston and Clifton and steal mail containing checks.\\u0026nbsp; To profit from the scheme, Blackwood and Antenor sold, deposited, or caused to be deposited the stolen checks to fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions.\\u0026nbsp; Blackwood and Antenor sometimes \\u201cwashed\\u201d the stolen checks by erasing the date, payee, amount, and memo line from the stolen checks and replacing the information, oftentimes for higher amounts than the amounts originally written on the checks.\\u0026nbsp;Overall, Blackwood and Antenor agreed that the scheme caused an actual loss of approximately $670,313.46.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to commit mail theft carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.\\u0026nbsp; Sentencing for Blackwood is scheduled for February 16, 2027, and sentencing for Antenor is scheduled for December 17, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Frazer credited postal inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and special agents with the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, with the investigation.\\u0026nbsp; He also thanked the Livingston Police Department and the Clifton Police Department for their assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDefense counsel for Blackwood:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Claressa Lowe, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDefense counsel for Antenor:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Roberto Espinosa, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460771\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460771\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=124940\\u0022 title=\\u0022antenor.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Eantenor.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460776\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460776\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=139560\\u0022 title=\\u0022blackwood.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Eblackwood.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:57:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788983865\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:42:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788982975\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-193\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (\\u201cUSPS\\u201d).\\u003C\\/p [...truncated 13350 characters...] Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKaitlyn Salinas\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant\\u0026nbsp;Attorney General\\u0026nbsp;in\\u0026nbsp;the Georgia Attorney General\\u2019s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EStephen Scaife\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAmy Schwarzl\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERobert Shapiro\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law\\u0026nbsp;and Piedmont University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Silloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a\\u0026nbsp;Counsel at Balch \\u0026amp; Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He\\u0026nbsp;attended Mercer University School of\\u0026nbsp;Law and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlexa Simonini\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard \\u0026amp; Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChloe Smith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. She worked as\\u0026nbsp;Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate\\u0026nbsp;at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAdam Sunstrom\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Suter\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division and as the Department\\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an\\u0026nbsp;AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKatie Taylor\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis \\u0026amp; Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDrew Waldbeser\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EConor Woods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:15:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788966955\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959935\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460506\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b14b1127-5ee4-4f86-ae24-51c245f1393c\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460511\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"43d86eec-7140-40a9-ae8d-0836f6d4f6d7\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460516\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"56e24643-27aa-443a-a101-fdc78dc56798\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460521\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"ce7f8675-b995-4d6f-909b-de34876708bd\"},\"alt\":\"ATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460526\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"cbc59f3e-fc92-475f-9ae5-0b46b36a4d62\"},\"alt\":\"USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/attorney-general-todd-blanche-celebrates-prosecutorial-successes-and-record-setting\",\"uuid\":\"7a64cf38-a160-4e08-b947-18a0ba3cf6f6\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460536\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b70cb281-10dc-4e84-8b06-b5cec0ccbafe\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees. BARRON and AHIGA were previously arrested and presented in the Central District of California and are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment\\u0026nbsp;this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute frauds targeting vulnerable victims,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga allegedly preyed upon financially struggling homeowners who got behind on their mortgages by charging them monthly fees and leading them to believe much of their past-due balances would be forgiven, causing a number of those customers\\u2019 homes to go into foreclosure.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga\\u2019s alleged fraud scheme involved taking money from people who sought assistance with their mortgages,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cThis scheme hurt hundreds of vulnerable people financially. The FBI will continue to prioritize complex financial fraud investigations to protect the public from anyone who takes advantage of consumers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Indictment:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least in or about June 2018 through at least in or about September 2022, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, BARRON and AHIGA, together with others, defrauded clients of their mortgage modification business and the clients\\u2019 mortgage lenders. BARRON, AHIGA, and others operated their mortgage modification business under different names, including Green Equitable Solutions, d\\/b\\/a Academy Home Services; South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc. d\\/b\\/a Home Matters USA; Apex Consulting \\u0026amp; Associates Inc., d\\/b\\/a Golden Home Services America; and Infocom Entertainment Ltd., d\\/b\\/a Atlantic Pacific Service (collectively, the \\u201cCompany\\u201d). BARRON, AHIGA, and others solicited homeowners who were struggling to make monthly payments on their mortgages and promised to have the homeowners\\u2019 interest rates and monthly payments reduced in exchange for monthly fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBARRON, AHIGA, and others induced the Company\\u2019s clients to accept their services and to continue to pay the monthly fees by lying about, among other matters, the amount of time that the mortgage modification process would take and the nature of the fees that the clients were paying for mortgage modification services. The defendants and others also directed clients to stop making monthly mortgage payments to their lenders and to pay the Company monthly fees instead. The conspirators falsely told clients that their lenders would forgive their arrearages and, in many instances, that part of their monthly payments to the Company would go to pay down the balances of their mortgage loans. BARRON, AHIGA, and others also defrauded the clients\\u2019 lenders by making material misrepresentations and by engaging in fraudulent practices to cause the lenders to modify the clients\\u2019 mortgages, including by creating and submitting fabricated bank statements so that the Company\\u2019s clients appeared to meet the lenders\\u2019 criteria for a modification. Clients of the mortgage modification business operated by BARRON, AHIGA, and others paid over approximately $15 million for mortgage modification services, and a number of those clients\\u2019 homes went into foreclosure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESOLIS BARRON, 63, of La Habra Heights, California, and AHIGA, 56, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec5d39d84a4de11b601230de288ff8684\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the\\u0026nbsp;Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:21:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963718\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:10:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963009\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-252\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Individuals Charged In Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Modification Scheme\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/two-individuals-charged-multimillion-dollar-mortgage-modification-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"0088b663-5338-41b8-827e-a928d3aed37e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA - Roberto Lopez, a\\/k\\/a Shrek, a\\/k\\/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBefore he went underground, Lopez was the head of domestic transportation for ruthless and far-reaching cartels that poured drugs into our community with military-level precision,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cEven if it takes decades, my office and our law enforcement partners in the Homeland Security Task Force will never cease our efforts to track and arrest fugitives in their hiding places and hold them accountable for their crimes.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLopez\\u2019s sentence is the result of a determined and coordinated effort to dismantle the criminal network he was a part of,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cThe success of this investigation demonstrates the strength of our Homeland Security Task Force partnerships and what we can accomplish when agencies work together.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In the early 2000s, Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cLa Barbie,\\u201d was an infamous and ruthless enforcer for the Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels in their war against the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. Valdez also partnered with U.S.-based trucking businessman Carlos Montemayor to operate a distribution network that moved up to 300 kilograms of cocaine per week to Atlanta, Memphis, and other cities while smuggling cash back to Mexico in shipments carrying no less than $1 million per load. In just a six-month period, the organization distributed 1,500 kilograms of cocaine in Atlanta alone.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe cartels\\u2019 operation is also estimated to have smuggled more than 1,000 rifles, 100-200 converted machineguns, and hundreds of magazines and ammunition drums into Mexico from the United States, along with silencers, night vision goggles, ballistic vests, helmets, and other tools of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELopez was the primary lieutenant for Valdez and Montemayor\\u2019s network, handling various logistics, including payments to truck drivers and stash house operators and the repackaging and transportation of money over the border. He was repeatedly intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps discussing loads of cocaine bound for the U.S. and shipments of cash destined for cartel leaders. When the investigation disrupted the organization, Lopez fled to Mexico, where he remained in hiding until his arrest there in 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERoberto Lopez, 46, of Laredo, Texas and Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. He pled guilty on May 19, 2026, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Following his indictment on December 15, 2009, Lopez was arrested in Mexico City on June 27, 2024, and expelled by Mexico to the United States on August 12, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2018, a federal judge in Atlanta sentenced Valdez to 49 years and 1 month in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In 2019, Montemayor was sentenced to 34 years and 3 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Justice\\u2019s Office of International Affairs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and Elizabeth M. Hathaway and former U.S. Attorney John Horn prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:10:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788977407\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:06-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788976986\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERoberto Lopez, a\\/k\\/a Shrek, a\\/k\\/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Lieutenant in Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels Sentenced to Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/lieutenant-sinaloa-and-beltran-leyva-cartels-sentenced-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"aa503ef0-fd1f-478e-87b9-5f822da6a537\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM IZA, 26, of California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 180 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Danbury in August 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men who were involved in a violent carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two occupants of the vehicle on that date.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that the kidnapping victims are the parents of an individual who participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin.\\u0026nbsp; In an attempt to steal some of that Bitcoin, Iza and others planned and coordinated the attempted robbery and ultimately the kidnapping.\\u0026nbsp; Iza\\u2019s alleged co-coconspirator, who had an altercation with the victims\\u2019 son in a Miami nightclub in July 2024, was in regular communication with certain of the kidnappers in the days before the crime, provided funding for it, and helped arrange the participants\\u2019 transportation and lodging.\\u0026nbsp; Iza communicated via cellphone and encrypted messaging applications with certain of the kidnappers, directed them as to the logistics of the scheme, and also provided funding.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIza has been detained since September 24, 2024, after\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/crypto-godfather-and-lasd-detective-agree-plead-guilty-violating-civil-rights-business\\u0022\\u003Ehe was charged in the Central District of California with unrelated federal offenses\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; On June 1, 2026, he pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (\\u201cHobbs Act Robbery\\u201d).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIza\\u2019s brother,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/missouri-man-admits-role-cryptocurrency-robbery-scheme\\u0022\\u003ESaif Faiq\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, pleaded guilty to the same offense and awaits sentencing.\\u0026nbsp; \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/6-florida-men-charged-conspiracy-carjacking-offenses\\u0022\\u003ESix individuals\\u003C\\/a\\u003E who carried out the carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty.\\u0026nbsp; Other alleged co-conspirators are awaiting trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and the Danbury Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The FBI Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments.\\u0026nbsp; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the District of New Jersey, and the State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:50:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788979831\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"},{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"},{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:47:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788979644\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\ [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01QSKyLArumuiHXmBAeodwz8, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.277

Inner payload

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Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.279

Inner payload

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":3},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.3376498222351074},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Butler, Mo., man has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECraig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr. to multiple federal charges. This plea is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, Johnson was hired at Community First Bank in 2022 as a Vice President and Loan Officer. While Johnson was employed with Community First Bank, Johnson was also a pastor with\\\\u0026nbsp;a church in El Dorado Springs, Mo. until he was removed in 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in at least 2024, Johnson began to request \\\\u201cinvestments\\\\u201d from various individuals for the purpose of buying cattle which would be later sold for profit. The deal varied from person to person but involved Johnson purchasing cattle and selling the cattle for a profit within a short time frame. Johnson told individuals he needed help investing and requested they pay him funds. Johnson worked with some of the \\\\u201cinvestors\\\\u201d to take out a loan at Community\\\\u0026nbsp;First Bank through Johnson and give the proceeds to Johnson. Johnson did not tell anyone at Community First Bank that he was benefiting from the loan proceeds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJohnson did\\\\u0026nbsp;not use the funds to purchase cattle but instead deposited the funds in an investment account where he repeatedly traded in small-capitalization and micro-cap securities ultimately losing all the funds. Johnson served as loan officer for approximately 29 loans and lines of credit at Community\\\\u0026nbsp;First Bank totaling approximately $4,476,156.22.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter receiving the victims\\\\u2019 funds, Johnson did not use the funds for proposed cattle sales. Instead, he used the victims\\\\u2019 funds to invest in\\\\u0026nbsp;high-risk stocks via his personal investment account. To further and conceal his scheme, Johnson used some of the victim\\\\u2019s funds to pay earlier investors in the scheme.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt various times between April 2024 and until Johnson\\\\u2019s termination in February\\\\u0026nbsp;2026, Johnson used his position as a loan officer and\\\\/or his status in the community to defraud individuals and a financial institution of at least $9,395,882.22. Johnson used his position at Community First Bank to obtain loans using\\\\u0026nbsp;the identity of other people. In February 2026, at least three loans were created in various individuals\\\\u2019\\\\u0026nbsp;names where they were not aware of or approved by these people. The three loans were created to\\\\u0026nbsp;pay off other loans Johnson created in the name of another person.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Aug. 5, 2024, Johnson completed an application for a loan for $1,447,000 through a financial institution in Jefferson City, Mo. The purpose of the loan was to purchase cow and calf pairs and refinance two loans.\\\\u0026nbsp;On Aug. 13, 2024, the loan was approved for $1,447,150. Of the loan proceeds, $46,809.93 was used to pay off a loan at a bank.\\\\u0026nbsp; $198,714.46 was used to pay off another loan at a bank and $1,201,475.61 was provided in a check to Johnson and was supposed to be used to purchase 400 head of cattle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn\\\\u0026nbsp;Aug. 14, 2024, the loan proceeds ($1,201,475.61) were deposited into a bank account. After the funds were deposited, there was not a large purchase of cattle as agreed upon in the loan. The funds instead were used to repay investors and for personal use.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Aug. 7, 2025, Johnson completed an application for another loan for $1,500,000 through another financial institution. The purpose of the loan was to purchase 550 cow and calf pairs. On Aug.\\\\u0026nbsp;13, 2025, the loan proceeds ($1,500,000)\\\\u0026nbsp;were deposited into Johnson\\\\u2019s account. Between Aug. 15, 2025, and Aug. 19, 2025,\\\\u0026nbsp;Johnson transferred $1,450,000 into his investment account.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Aug. 19, 2025, Johnson completed an application for a third loan for $900,000. The purpose of the of the loan was to purchase 300 cow and calf pairs. The loan was approved for $900,150. The loan proceeds ($900,000) were deposited into Johnson\\\\u2019s bank account. Johnson transferred $900,000 into his personal investment account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter receiving the loan proceeds for the second and third loans, Johnson provided a bill of sale dated Aug. 30, 2025, to a financial institution. The bill of sale appeared to show that Johnson purchased 850 cow and calf pairs for $2,825,000 from a livestock company in Evanston,\\\\u0026nbsp;Utah. The company did not sell 850 cow and calf pairs to Johnson in August 2025. The owner of the company stated the name on the bill of sale appeared to be his, but the signature was not.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJohnson did not use the combined funds from the three loans ($3,601,475.61) to purchase cattle as stated on the loan documentation but instead transferred the funds to his personal\\\\u0026nbsp; investment account and to make payments to previous victims who believed Johnson made good on their cattle deals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder federal statutes, Johnson is subject to the following sentences:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ef35e9b2088bbb5f2ca8181fd70ac3acd\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWire Fraud - up to 20 years in federal prison without parole\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e044d884519ef5af95801e7a536bbada0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EBank Fraud - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e537b444bf2a6f070fde53f9d2b68131c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAggravated Identity Theft \\\\u2013 a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ef4a4f1e252366163710dab6f6732cea9\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFalse Statement to a Financial Institution - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker.\\\\u0026nbsp; It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:17:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788974258\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:54:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788972881\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECraig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., has pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving an alleged cattle-buying scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Butler, Missouri Bank Vice President and Former Pastor Pleads Guilty to Financial Fraud Involving an Alleged Cattle-Buying Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/butler-missouri-bank-vice-president-and-former-pastor-pleads-guilty-financial-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8d95d26f-8dda-4ff6-9e55-21adc5d30571\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELUBBOCK, Texas \\\\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in Lubbock returned an indictment today charging Allegra Fey Mora, 28, with enticement of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her students.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe full force of my office will be brought to bear on teachers, administrators, and school districts who perpetuate a cycle of abuse in our schools,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\\\u201cNo one who abuses a position of authority over a child in the Northern District of Texas will escape scrutiny.\\\\u0026nbsp; As I said before, Project Safe Schools is here to stay, and I\\\\u2019d encourage teachers, administrators and school districts to report any and all abuse that has occurred in the past to my office.\\\\u0026nbsp; If we find out about it on our own, the consequences will be more severe.\\\\u0026nbsp; And to North Texas parents, we will continue to fight for you to put bad actors in prison who abuse kids and create a culture of concealment in our North Texas schools.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cProtecting children from exploitation is among HSI\\\\u2019s highest priorities, especially when allegations involve an abuse of trust by someone in a position of authority,\\\\u201d said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. \\\\u201cHSI Dallas will continue working alongside our partners to identify, investigate and support the prosecution of those who target minors. Every child deserves to be safe from exploitation, including in the places where they should feel most protected.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, from October 2025 to May 2026, Mora allegedly knowingly used a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, including a cellular telephone, to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Texas Rangers initiated an inquiry in June 2026 after receiving a report concerning possible inappropriate sexual conduct between Mora and a 17\\\\u2011year\\\\u2011old Muleshoe High School student. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted interviews, collected electronic evidence and executed search warrants related to the case. The evidence reviewed by investigators corroborates alleged explicit communications and conduct underlying the federal charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMora was arrested by state authorities earlier this year and was released pending further state proceedings. If convicted, Mora faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Texas Rangers conducted the investigation with forensic assistance from Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam from the Lubbock Division is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Schools is a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. Project Safe Schools directly targets failures in mandatory reporting of educator misconduct and combats the practice known as \\\\u201cpassing the trash,\\\\u201d where educators with known misconduct issues move between schools without disclosure of their prior wrongdoing. Project Safe Schools\\\\u2019 goals are to:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eec3cecaffcc83d8353f96458d36378c8\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEnforce mandatory reporting requirements tied to federal education programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0042bae4a58f55920a2ade4e85027ca4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHold school districts, administrators and teachers accountable through civil and criminal enforcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ecf1886fdb8aad2cd3604651c2ee847d4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIncrease transparency in educator misconduct investigations.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ee82e83849faf7c27593c2cda44e1cdab\\\\u0022\\\\u003EStrengthen student safety across schools in North Texas.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T21:57:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789005469\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:44:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789001041\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Project Safe Schools: Federal grand jury charges former high school teacher with enticement offense for alleged sexual relations with a minor\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/project-safe-schools-federal-grand-jury-charges-former-high-school-teacher-enticement\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"baf8eeb3-8fce-4f9a-a95a-7a76f3aaf067\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013 Lacresha Vining (\\\\u201cVINING\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701,\\\\u0026nbsp;announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Court also imposed a mandatory $10 special assessment fee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EVINING\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E knowingly obstructed the passage of mail while employed as a postal carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General in investigating this matter.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; *\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:57:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788998247\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:52:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788997951\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013 LACRESHA VINING (\\\\u201cVINING\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701,\\\\u0026nbsp;announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Postal Employee Sentenced For Obstruction of U.S. Mail\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"351fcc4e-1f5b-4490-b848-db30da15059a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Public Corruption\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/former-postal-employee-sentenced-obstruction-us-mail\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3db05c33-0f48-44d4-8fdd-b09cb7fa00f4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962761\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison  for Production of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY \\\\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959888\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) \\\\u2013 Washington Division,\\\\u0026nbsp;and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on February 4, 2025, a BPD detective, monitoring a CitiWatch Camera, observed Fallin displaying characteristics of an armed person. The detective saw Fallin adjusting the front waistband of his pants while in a convenience store.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThen Fallin exited the store and approached the driver\\\\u2019s side of a white vehicle with an unknown male who was speaking to a female driver. During the conversation, the officer noticed Fallin repeatedly checking and adjusting an object in the front waistband of his pants. Then the detective saw Fallin walk to the front of the car and pull out a black handgun and hold it against his side.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFallin then put the firearm back in his waistband and adjusted his pants. After the white vehicle left, Fallin went to his vehicle and entered the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Shortly after, BPD officers arrived on the scene to apprehend Fallin.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter law enforcement arrested Fallin, officers asked him if he owned a permit for the firearm. But Fallin denied having the firearm. Then law enforcement searched the vehicle and uncovered a loaded firearm that contained 12 rounds of ammunition underneath the driver\\\\u2019s seat.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, law enforcement discovered a United States Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key that fell from the driver\\\\u2019s side visor onto the driver\\\\u2019s seat. An Arrow Key is a government-issued master key that enables postal carriers to open cluster box units, blue collection boxes, and other USPS-secured mail infrastructure.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that the recovered Arrow Key was stolen from a postal carrier on February 3.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the\\\\u0026nbsp;USPIS and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the\\\\u0026nbsp;Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O\\\\u2019Donohue III,\\\\u0026nbsp;who prosecuted the federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:04:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977097\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976989\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Baltimore Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Stolen Postal Service Key\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/baltimore-man-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearm-and-stolen-postal-service-key\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"82f89b0c-382e-4a12-b21d-b58b7b9c17ad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGAINESVILLE \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cSocial Security fraud and identity theft strike at the heart of public trust and economic security. This alien\\\\u2019s alleged conduct not only jeopardized the integrity of our nation\\\\u2019s borders, but it also exposed unwitting victims to significant financial and legal issues stemming from the unauthorized use of their personal information,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cMy office remains committed to protecting victims and holding accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCounterfeit identification documents, including social security cards, are instruments of fraud that can upend victims\\\\u2019 lives, fuel criminal activity, and erode the integrity of our immigration, employment, and financial systems,\\\\u201d said\\\\u0026nbsp;Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. \\\\u201cHSI will continue working alongside our partners to disrupt fraud schemes designed to profit from stolen identities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 11, 2026 and on May 19, 2026, Alvarez allegedly sold an undercover agent three Social Security cards in exchange for $750 per card. Following the transactions, Alvarez allegedly sent the undercover agent the corresponding birth dates for the individuals listed on the cards.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents set up an August 5, 2026 meeting with Alvarez to purchase two additional Social Security cards. When Alvarez arrived to complete the transaction, agents arrested him on a federal criminal complaint and seized four additional Social Security cards from him. During a subsequent federal search warrant executed at Alvarez\\\\u2019s residence, agents found a semi-automatic pistol. Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (\\\\u201cSSA-OIG\\\\u201d) determined that all the cards purchased or seized from Alvarez were counterfeit. SSA-OIG further confirmed the Social Security numbers on each card were legitimate and associated with real people.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing his arrest on the complaint, a federal magistrate judge denied the United States\\\\u2019s motion to detain Alvarez. The United States immediately filed an emergency motion to stay and revoke the release order, arguing that there was a serious risk that Alvarez would flee. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story granted both motions and ordered that Alvarez be detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service without bond through the conclusion of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, a grand jury returned an 18-count federal indictment charging Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, 41, of Mexico, with seven counts of Social Security fraud, seven counts of production of false identification documents, three counts of transfer of false identification documents, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Today, a grand jury added two counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carries a mandatory minimum of two years\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMembers of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government\\\\u2019s burden to prove the defendant\\\\u2019s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with valuable assistance from the SSA-OIG.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:38:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979090\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:35:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978956\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDerly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges for Identity Theft, Producing and Selling Counterfeit Social Security Cards, and Unlawful Gun Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-faces-federal-charges-identity-theft-producing-and-selling-counterfeit\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ccb08ed0-9cdc-4805-a087-34d57ad48f9e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough\\\\u2019s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EScarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981008\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:08:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788980919\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1034\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-woman-sentenced-prison-11m-tax-refund-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"892bb09b-bee4-487e-bac3-799806955291\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, KAN. \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) provides an update of cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC). PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the commitment to prosecuting cases related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, USAO-KS staffs with federal prosecutors who specialize in seeking justice in these types of offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn June, July, and August, USAO-KS indicted defendants on child exploitation related offenses while achieving substantial sentences for defendants post-conviction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EIndictment\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJonathan Arnold, 47, of Leavenworth was indicted on three counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStephen Crook, 34, Leavenworth of was indicted on one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor under 12 years of age.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid Reno, 58, of Lenexa was indicted on two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyller White, 24, of Parsons was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a child \\\\u2013 attempted production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EColton Wiggins, 25, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPlea\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody S. Bingham, 24, of Derby pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWilliam \\\\u201cBill\\\\u201d Bright, 58, of Hutchinson pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames D. Fishbaugh, 53, of Blue Springs, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDean Glovier, 28, of Topeka, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBebak Gurung, 26, of Fort Riley, Kansas, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation-production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyson Hale, 26, of Mayetta, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of minor in Indian Country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDylan Jamescupp, 34, of Ottawa pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZachery Leslie, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMichael Steven Podrybau, 43, of Alton pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdam T. Umstead, 42, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMichael Eugene Watley, 58, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoshua Craig Abel, 44, of Topeka was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release, after a jury convicted him of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 possession of child pornography. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Donald Dube, 40, Topeka was sentenced to 90 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGarrett Gayoso, 25, of Baxter Springs was sentenced to 222 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETommie Earnest Giles, 53, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBlake Nolan, 21, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGavin Onuffer, 28, of Haysville was sentenced to 121 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDennis Lee Hamilton, 45, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced 360 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid Mark Jones, 35, of Shawnee was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJeffrey T. Lyons, 33, of Olathe was sentenced to 264 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictor Ortiz, 49, of Junction City was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 production of child pornography\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdam Charles Pfeiffer, 36, of Wichita was sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERonald Waltrip, 62, of Haysville was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child \\\\u2013 production of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:52:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788969148\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kansas\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:29:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788964167\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) provides an update of cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"District of Kansas releases update on child exploitation cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ks\\\\/pr\\\\/district-kansas-releases-quarterly-update-child-exploitation-cases-prosecuted-under-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80dfc7c-45ba-43ab-b184-950b9c1019f5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E plead guilty on May 29, 2026, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1347, and was sentenced to ten years in prison on October 23, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained fraudulent doctors\\\\u2019 orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries\\\\u2019 treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;submitted over $174\\\\u0026nbsp;million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55\\\\u0026nbsp;million in reimbursements.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBefore \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was indicted, law enforcement officers seized several of his assets that had been purchased with the proceeds of his scheme. In its recent order, the Court ordered the forfeiture of the contents of an investment account and a bank account held in the name of a company controlled by \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, along with three vehicles purchased with proceeds of the offense, namely, a Land Rover Range Rover, a BMW, and a Ford F-150. In total, the forfeited accounts contained a value totaling approximately $7,051,089.08.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAsset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that allows the United States to take property derived from, or used to commit, federal crimes. It is designed to strip criminals of the proceeds of their offenses, remove the instruments used to carry them out, and- where victims can be identified- return recovered funds to the people who were harmed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of\\\\u0026nbsp;the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, handled the forfeiture component.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995545\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994977\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of Approximately $7 Million and Three Vehicles Following Conviction of Jamie P. McNamara\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-orders-forfeiture-approximately-7-million-and-three-vehicles-following\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3de0624c-5732-4481-ac73-96d37a2b6035\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461021\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"594836a0-31db-4c53-a6b4-f62cc81c2e8e\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EMemphis Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Trafficking 20 Lbs Of Meth To Marshall County\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOXFORD, MS. \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Scott Leary announced two separate convictions resulting from Homeland Security Task Force investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlbert Ardell Scott, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Mississippi.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe DEA conducted this Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation. According to court documents, Scott made the methamphetamine delivery from the Memphis area to Byhalia, MS, in May of 2025. Scott was part of a multi-defendant conspiracy which operated in Tennessee and Mississippi. Several members remain currently charged by indictment, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Scott to 120 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ETupelo Man Sentenced To Over 15 Years For Possessing Hundreds of Meth \\\\u0026amp;Fentanyl Pills\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn another case, James Homan, 44, of Tupelo, was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI conducted this HSTF investigation, which resulted in the seizure of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine and over 100 grams of fentanyl. Homan had a lengthy criminal history.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Homan to 188 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, \\\\u201cHomeland Security Task Forces were created by Executive Order in 2025. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels and drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States and abroad. We are again seeing the great law enforcement results from the HSTF initiative. Methamphetamine is among the most addictive and destructive drugs this country has ever faced. Likewise, one fentanyl pill can be fatal, and in this case enough fentanyl was seized to create thousands of pills. The FBI and DEA took these drugs off the streets of the Northern District of Mississippi, and today our communities are safer. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case. They are valuable assets to the Northern District of Mississippi.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, \\\\u0022Homan intended to distribute massive quantities of deadly methamphetamine and fentanyl pills throughout Mississippi, putting our communities at risk and destroying lives in the process. Today\\\\u2019s sentence should serve as a warning to others who engage in this dangerous and illegal activity: illicit drugs will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting public safety and holding those who threaten our communities accountable for their criminal actions.\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese operations and convictions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis not only on cartel crimes, but also on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:52:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134771\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:32:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789133574\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"202609-05\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlbert Ardell Scott of Memphis was sentenced to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of meth to Mississippi.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames Homan of Tupelo was sentenced to over 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 600 grams of meth and over 100 grams of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force Investigations Lead to Sentencings for Drug Traffickers \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndms\\\\/pr\\\\/homeland-security-task-force-investigations-lead-sentencings-drug-traffickers\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"abb5e122-59c3-444f-bcba-720855dbe4a5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\\\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\\\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\\\u201ctimknight444,\\\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant results for Knight\\\\u2019s Instagram account and collected two J-Pay tablets at Central State Prison. One tablet was found in Knight\\\\u2019s locker and had been altered but did not contain CSAM. Investigators found the second tablet with Knight when they confiscated it. Investigators confirmed that the tablet was altered and that it contained CSAM. Also, the device contained Google search histories for information on abusing, trafficking, and raping children. Investigators found 3,410 unique artifacts of CSAM material that include images of prepubescent children. Most images came from five different video series.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Brown and Julius Jefferson are prosecuting the case for the Government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975784\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:41:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975664\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"State Inmate with Child Sexual Abuse Material Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdga\\\\/pr\\\\/state-inmate-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9b7861e6-d832-48a0-9103-ef51184b8c64\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHAMMOND \\\\u2013 Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois.\\\\u0026nbsp; Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRecidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; They\\\\u0026nbsp;used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased.\\\\u0026nbsp;In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.\\\\u0026nbsp;Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Thanks to the partnership of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:37:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072641\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"27450eca-820f-409c-ae9c-7d89d90bef92\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:30:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072221\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gary Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Postal Money Order Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndin\\\\/pr\\\\/gary-man-sentenced-15-months-prison-postal-money-order-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f38a7066-e93f-4ad3-9ff0-1404f5b99ae6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyree Saunders, 21, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that that an undercover officer made a purchase of various controlled substances, including crack cocaine, directly from the defendant. Based on that and other information, the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained authority to intercept Saunders\\\\u2019 communications, which revealed that Saunders was regularly selling crack cocaine and used a firearm to threaten a co-conspirator. The investigators obtained a warrant to search the defendant\\\\u2019s home, where authorities found crack cocaine and a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Hardy scheduled sentencing for January 13, 2027. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Saunders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:45:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983140\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:44:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983040\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Violations\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/west-mifflin-man-pleads-guilty-drug-and-firearm-violations-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c52f2739-d086-4bf2-94a0-c307275f3893\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHOUSTON \\\\u2013 A 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAuthorities have now taken Alla Nowowiejski into custody. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett at 2 p.m. today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients to assist them with establishing or adjusting their work status and applying for work visas. However, she allegedly never submitted the applications or only submitted them in part.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment further alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents or reference numbers associated with active immigration cases unrelated to her clients. She allegedly used the documents and reference number to make the clients believe immigration authorities were processing their applications.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Homeland Security \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service \\\\u2013 OIG conducted the investigation with assistance of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Harris County Constable\\\\u2019s Office - Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice has created the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-1.govdelivery.com\\\\/cl0\\\\/https:%2f%2fwww.justice.gov%2fopa%2fpr%2facting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement%3futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery\\\\/1\\\\/0100019d6f561d1d-a5ad8fc3-ccfc-4d37-a8ed-\\\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\\\u0022node\\\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\\\u0022e6ae8384-0ce7-4217-8137-6de5cc8173ad\\\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\\\u0022canonical\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement\\\\u0026nbsp;Division\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAn indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T18:04:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789077845\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788998760\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Immigration attorney arrested in alleged fraud scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/immigration-attorney-arrested-alleged-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0a1b5a1-2f8a-4a33-a5d8-a3aeea64ea41\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 5, 2025, the Buffalo Police Department, ATF and FBI executed a search warrant at Carter\\\\u2019s Jackson Avenue residence in Sloan, during which they seized two loaded pistols and approximately 25 pounds of suspected marijuana. Carter was convicted of felony charges in January 2010, in Erie County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:11:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995482\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:07:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convicted felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c903a18b-d277-4668-824e-e3b2e52b722c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs a result of the outstanding work by the FBI, our local law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Johnson has been held accountable for his role in a large-scale narcotics distribution operation involving fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and for distributing fentanyl and cocaine that caused three individuals to overdose in 2020,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cWe hope that today\\\\u2019s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims who thankfully survived and their families, and sends a clear message that those who distribute drugs, particularly that cause overdoses, will face severe consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u0027s sentencing of Gary Johnson serves as a stark reminder that those who distribute drugs in New York will be held accountable.\\\\u0026nbsp; The FBI New York Long Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force works tirelessly to bring drug traffickers to justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Those who endeavor to follow in Johnson\\\\u0027s footsteps will be stopped in their tracks, so that future victims may be spared,\\\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe drug epidemic is fueled by people who are focused on making a profit, without regard for the devastating consequences their actions can have when those drugs reach individuals who ultimately overdose,\\\\u201d stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cI want to commend EDNY for ensuring Johnson will be spending time in prison for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to halt the flow of narcotics and hold drug dealers accountable for the selfish choices that put lives at risk.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 2013 and November 2020, Johnson, a leader in the G-Shine set of the Bloods based in Suffolk County, sold fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout Long Island.\\\\u0026nbsp; The drugs distributed by the defendant caused multiple victims to overdose, including three individuals who suffered overdoses in March and May 2020.\\\\u0026nbsp; The jury convicted Johnson of multiple narcotics-distribution offenses, including three counts of distributing narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJohnson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp; That conviction arose from the recovery of a semi-automatic firearm from Johnson\\\\u2019s residence during the execution of a search warrant.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office\\\\u2019s Long Island Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa, Stephen Petraeus, and Mark E. Misorek are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Dejah Turla, Rebecca Roth, and Adam Bernard, as well as Victim Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGARY JOHNSON\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge: 43\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EBellport, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-518 (S-2) (JMA)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:27:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978474\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:20:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978041\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Bloods Gang Leader Sentenced to 280 Months\\\\u2019 Imprisonment  for Narcotics Distribution Resulting in Three Overdoses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/bloods-gang-leader-sentenced-280-months-imprisonment-narcotics-distribution-resulting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f5a73132-7d01-453a-801e-a28954c3f449\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460771\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24fe11d9-268d-47d4-b0a9-235c1987a13a\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460776\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"21d29d57-4054-4d9a-a7b4-8731071005d3\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\\\u2013 An Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (\\\\u201cUSPS\\\\u201d), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELeslie Blackwood, 25, of Irvington, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an Information charging him with conspiracy to steal checks from the mail.\\\\u0026nbsp;Verly Antenor, 24, of Roselle Park, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty on July 16, 2026, before Judge Salas to the same charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to documents filed in the cases and statements made in court:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween September 2021 to March 2022, Blackwood and Antenor agreed with other individuals to steal checks from the mail.\\\\u0026nbsp;They possessed and used stolen or misappropriated arrow keys to access USPS collection boxes in Livingston and Clifton and steal mail containing checks.\\\\u0026nbsp; To profit from the scheme, Blackwood and Antenor sold, deposited, or caused to be deposited the stolen checks to fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions.\\\\u0026nbsp; Blackwood and Antenor sometimes \\\\u201cwashed\\\\u201d the stolen checks by erasing the date, payee, amount, and memo line from the stolen checks and replacing the information, oftentimes for higher amounts than the amounts originally written on the checks.\\\\u0026nbsp;Overall, Blackwood and Antenor agreed that the scheme caused an actual loss of approximately $670,313.46.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to commit mail theft carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentencing for Blackwood is scheduled for February 16, 2027, and sentencing for Antenor is scheduled for December 17, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Frazer credited postal inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and special agents with the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, with the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; He also thanked the Livingston Police Department and the Clifton Police Department for their assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDefense counsel for Blackwood:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Claressa Lowe, Esq.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDefense counsel for Antenor:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Roberto Espinosa, Esq.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460771\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n                                      \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n            \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/media\\\\/1460771\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=124940\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022antenor.information.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eantenor.information.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                    \\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460776\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n                                      \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n            \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/media\\\\/1460776\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=139560\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022blackwood.information.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eblackwood.information.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                    \\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:57:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983865\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:42:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788982975\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-193\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (\\\\u201cUSPS\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKaitlyn Salinas\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney General\\\\u0026nbsp;in\\\\u0026nbsp;the Georgia Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EStephen Scaife\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAmy Schwarzl\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERobert Shapiro\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law\\\\u0026nbsp;and Piedmont University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPatrick Silloway\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a\\\\u0026nbsp;Counsel at Balch \\\\u0026amp; Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He\\\\u0026nbsp;attended Mercer University School of\\\\u0026nbsp;Law and the University of Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlexa Simonini\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard \\\\u0026amp; Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChloe Smith\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\\\u0026amp; National Security Section. She worked as\\\\u0026nbsp;Special Matters \\\\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate\\\\u0026nbsp;at King \\\\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAdam Sunstrom\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPatrick Suter\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Criminal Division and as the Department\\\\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an\\\\u0026nbsp;AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKatie Taylor\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis \\\\u0026amp; Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDrew Waldbeser\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EConor Woods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds \\\\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:15:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788966955\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959935\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460506\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b14b1127-5ee4-4f86-ae24-51c245f1393c\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460511\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"43d86eec-7140-40a9-ae8d-0836f6d4f6d7\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460516\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56e24643-27aa-443a-a101-fdc78dc56798\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460521\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ce7f8675-b995-4d6f-909b-de34876708bd\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"ATLANTA \\\\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460526\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cbc59f3e-fc92-475f-9ae5-0b46b36a4d62\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO NDGA 09\\\\/03\\\\/26 - AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/attorney-general-todd-blanche-celebrates-prosecutorial-successes-and-record-setting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7a64cf38-a160-4e08-b947-18a0ba3cf6f6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460536\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b70cb281-10dc-4e84-8b06-b5cec0ccbafe\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSolomon,\\\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees. BARRON and AHIGA were previously arrested and presented in the Central District of California and are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment\\\\u0026nbsp;this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute frauds targeting vulnerable victims,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga allegedly preyed upon financially struggling homeowners who got behind on their mortgages by charging them monthly fees and leading them to believe much of their past-due balances would be forgiven, causing a number of those customers\\\\u2019 homes to go into foreclosure.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga\\\\u2019s alleged fraud scheme involved taking money from people who sought assistance with their mortgages,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cThis scheme hurt hundreds of vulnerable people financially. The FBI will continue to prioritize complex financial fraud investigations to protect the public from anyone who takes advantage of consumers.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Indictment:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom at least in or about June 2018 through at least in or about September 2022, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, BARRON and AHIGA, together with others, defrauded clients of their mortgage modification business and the clients\\\\u2019 mortgage lenders. BARRON, AHIGA, and others operated their mortgage modification business under different names, including Green Equitable Solutions, d\\\\/b\\\\/a Academy Home Services; South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc. d\\\\/b\\\\/a Home Matters USA; Apex Consulting \\\\u0026amp; Associates Inc., d\\\\/b\\\\/a Golden Home Services America; and Infocom Entertainment Ltd., d\\\\/b\\\\/a Atlantic Pacific Service (collectively, the \\\\u201cCompany\\\\u201d). BARRON, AHIGA, and others solicited homeowners who were struggling to make monthly payments on their mortgages and promised to have the homeowners\\\\u2019 interest rates and monthly payments reduced in exchange for monthly fees.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBARRON, AHIGA, and others induced the Company\\\\u2019s clients to accept their services and to continue to pay the monthly fees by lying about, among other matters, the amount of time that the mortgage modification process would take and the nature of the fees that the clients were paying for mortgage modification services. The defendants and others also directed clients to stop making monthly mortgage payments to their lenders and to pay the Company monthly fees instead. The conspirators falsely told clients that their lenders would forgive their arrearages and, in many instances, that part of their monthly payments to the Company would go to pay down the balances of their mortgage loans. BARRON, AHIGA, and others also defrauded the clients\\\\u2019 lenders by making material misrepresentations and by engaging in fraudulent practices to cause the lenders to modify the clients\\\\u2019 mortgages, including by creating and submitting fabricated bank statements so that the Company\\\\u2019s clients appeared to meet the lenders\\\\u2019 criteria for a modification. Clients of the mortgage modification business operated by BARRON, AHIGA, and others paid over approximately $15 million for mortgage modification services, and a number of those clients\\\\u2019 homes went into foreclosure.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESOLIS BARRON, 63, of La Habra Heights, California, and AHIGA, 56, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec5d39d84a4de11b601230de288ff8684\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the\\\\u0026nbsp;Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:21:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788963718\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:10:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788963009\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-252\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSolomon,\\\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Individuals Charged In Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Modification Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/two-individuals-charged-multimillion-dollar-mortgage-modification-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0088b663-5338-41b8-827e-a928d3aed37e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA - Roberto Lopez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Shrek, a\\\\/k\\\\/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBefore he went underground, Lopez was the head of domestic transportation for ruthless and far-reaching cartels that poured drugs into our community with military-level precision,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cEven if it takes decades, my office and our law enforcement partners in the Homeland Security Task Force will never cease our efforts to track and arrest fugitives in their hiding places and hold them accountable for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cLopez\\\\u2019s sentence is the result of a determined and coordinated effort to dismantle the criminal network he was a part of,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cThe success of this investigation demonstrates the strength of our Homeland Security Task Force partnerships and what we can accomplish when agencies work together.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In the early 2000s, Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cLa Barbie,\\\\u201d was an infamous and ruthless enforcer for the Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels in their war against the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. Valdez also partnered with U.S.-based trucking businessman Carlos Montemayor to operate a distribution network that moved up to 300 kilograms of cocaine per week to Atlanta, Memphis, and other cities while smuggling cash back to Mexico in shipments carrying no less than $1 million per load. In just a six-month period, the organization distributed 1,500 kilograms of cocaine in Atlanta alone.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe cartels\\\\u2019 operation is also estimated to have smuggled more than 1,000 rifles, 100-200 converted machineguns, and hundreds of magazines and ammunition drums into Mexico from the United States, along with silencers, night vision goggles, ballistic vests, helmets, and other tools of violence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELopez was the primary lieutenant for Valdez and Montemayor\\\\u2019s network, handling various logistics, including payments to truck drivers and stash house operators and the repackaging and transportation of money over the border. He was repeatedly intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps discussing loads of cocaine bound for the U.S. and shipments of cash destined for cartel leaders. When the investigation disrupted the organization, Lopez fled to Mexico, where he remained in hiding until his arrest there in 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoberto Lopez, 46, of Laredo, Texas and Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. He pled guilty on May 19, 2026, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Following his indictment on December 15, 2009, Lopez was arrested in Mexico City on June 27, 2024, and expelled by Mexico to the United States on August 12, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn 2018, a federal judge in Atlanta sentenced Valdez to 49 years and 1 month in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In 2019, Montemayor was sentenced to 34 years and 3 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and Elizabeth M. Hathaway and former U.S. Attorney John Horn prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:10:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977407\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:06-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976986\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoberto Lopez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Shrek, a\\\\/k\\\\/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Lieutenant in Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels Sentenced to Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/lieutenant-sinaloa-and-beltran-leyva-cartels-sentenced-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aa503ef0-fd1f-478e-87b9-5f822da6a537\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM IZA, 26, of California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 180 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Danbury in August 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men who were involved in a violent carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two occupants of the vehicle on that date.\\\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that the kidnapping victims are the parents of an individual who participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin.\\\\u0026nbsp; In an attempt to steal some of that Bitcoin, Iza and others planned and coordinated the attempted robbery and ultimately the kidnapping.\\\\u0026nbsp; Iza\\\\u2019s alleged co-coconspirator, who had an altercation with the victims\\\\u2019 son in a Miami nightclub in July 2024, was in regular communication with certain of the kidnappers in the days before the crime, provided funding for it, and helped arrange the participants\\\\u2019 transportation and lodging.\\\\u0026nbsp; Iza communicated via cellphone and encrypted messaging applications with certain of the kidnappers, directed them as to the logistics of the scheme, and also provided funding.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIza has been detained since September 24, 2024, after\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/crypto-godfather-and-lasd-detective-agree-plead-guilty-violating-civil-rights-business\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehe was charged in the Central District of California with unrelated federal offenses\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp; On June 1, 2026, he pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (\\\\u201cHobbs Act Robbery\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIza\\\\u2019s brother,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/missouri-man-admits-role-cryptocurrency-robbery-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESaif Faiq\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, pleaded guilty to the same offense and awaits sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/6-florida-men-charged-conspiracy-carjacking-offenses\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESix individuals\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E who carried out the carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty.\\\\u0026nbsp; Other alleged co-conspirators are awaiting trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and the Danbury Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The FBI Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the District of New Jersey, and the State\\\\u2019s Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:50:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979831\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:47:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979644\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.658143912
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01588NcAYe5L1yGaJx1hsvh2

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,datetime\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n try:\n d=json.load(open(f))\n inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n except Exception: continue\n for r in inner.get('results',[]):\n rows[r['uuid']]=r\nprint(len(rows))\ndates=sorted({datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(r['date'])).strftime('%Y-%m-%d') for r in rows.values()})\nprint(dates[-12:])\nimport collections\nc=collections.Counter(datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(r['date'])).strftime('%Y-%m-%d') for r in rows.values())\nfor k in sorted(c)[-12:]: print(k,c[k])\njson.dump([{k:r[k] for k in ('title','url','date','teaser','body','component','topic')} for r in rows.values()], open('/workspace/work/doj_raw.json','w'))\nEOF" }

Tool Progress E0045

(no result)

Tool Result E0046

228 ['2009-01-08', '2009-01-09', '2009-01-12', '2009-01-13', '2009-01-14', '2009-01-15', '2009-01-16', '2009-01-19', '2009-01-21', '2026-09-09', '2026-09-10', '2026-09-11'] 2009-01-08 5 2009-01-09 4 2009-01-12 4 2009-01-13 3 2009-01-14 5 2009-01-15 10 2009-01-16 4 2009-01-19 1 2009-01-21 1 2026-09-09 59 2026-09-10 67 2026-09-11 52 --- stderr --- <stdin>:11: DeprecationWarning: datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp() is deprecated and scheduled for removal in a future version. Use timezone-aware objects to represent datetimes in UTC: datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, datetime.UTC). <stdin>:14: DeprecationWarning: datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp() is deprecated and scheduled for removal in a future version. Use timezone-aware objects to represent datetimes in UTC: datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, datetime.UTC).

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01588NcAYe5L1yGaJx1hsvh2, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.280

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,datetime\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n    try:\n        d=json.load(open(f))\n        inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n    except Exception: continue\n    for r in inner.get('results',[]):\n        rows[r['uuid']]=r\nprint(len(rows))\ndates=sorted({datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(r['date'])).strftime('%Y-%m-%d') for r in rows.values()})\nprint(dates[-12:])\nimport collections\nc=collections.Counter(datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(r['date'])).strftime('%Y-%m-%d') for r in rows.values())\nfor k in sorted(c)[-12:]: print(k,c[k])\njson.dump([{k:r[k] for k in ('title','url','date','teaser','body','component','topic')} for r in rows.values()], open('/workspace/work/doj_raw.json','w'))\nEOF"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01588NcAYe5L1yGaJx1hsvh2",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.281

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01588NcAYe5L1yGaJx1hsvh2",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport js...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169629278
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.282

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01588NcAYe5L1yGaJx1hsvh2",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "228\n['2009-01-08', '2009-01-09', '2009-01-12', '2009-01-13', '2009-01-14', '2009-01-15', '2009-01-16', '2009-01-19', '2009-01-21', '2026-09-09', '2026-09-10', '2026-09-11']\n2009-01-08 5\n2009-01-09 4\n2009-01-12 4\n2009-01-13 3\n2009-01-14 5\n2009-01-15 10\n2009-01-16 4\n2009-01-19 1\n2009-01-21 1\n2026-09-09 59\n2026-09-10 67\n2026-09-11 52\n\n--- stderr ---\n<stdin>:11: DeprecationWarning: datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp() is deprecated and scheduled for removal in a future version. Use timezone-aware objects to represent datetimes in UTC: datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, datetime.UTC).\n<stdin>:14: DeprecationWarning: datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp() is deprecated and scheduled for removal in a future version. Use timezone-aware objects to represent datetimes in UTC: datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, datetime.UTC).\n",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.133099351
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01YKbbdTuauheumn6E1EAscA

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases page 4", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0048

(no result)

Tool Result E0049

{ "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":4},\"executionTime\":2.5506141185760498},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cMy team of tenacious federal prosecutors continues to deliver outstanding trial victories to hold accountable any and all criminals who brazenly violate our laws. My thanks go out to our state and federal law enforcement partners, whose excellent investigative work led to this successful prosecution.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records and trial testimony revealed that on February 10, 2026, during a law enforcement investigation, a search warrant was executed on the defendant\\u2019s residence. Two loaded handguns were discovered in the defendant\\u2019s nightstand. The defendant was previously convicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, in 2011 of three felonies, including two counts of conspiracy to steal or misapply funds from an organization that receives federal assistance and to commit wire fraud and aiding and abetting or misapplying funds as a credit union employee. The defendant was terminated from his position as the City Manager of Quincy in June 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was jointly investigated by the Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049490\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:09:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049344\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Quincy City Manager Found Guilty of Firearm Possession as Convicted Felon\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/former-quincy-city-manager-found-guilty-firearm-possession-convicted-felon\",\"uuid\":\"e31c5f2a-c779-4a26-85f7-44dbe4de167d\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460981\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"1e38b3c1-851a-401d-ada2-0bcb42a5e3bb\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOxford, MS \\u2013 A Batesville woman was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison for possessing one or more homemade bombs on separate occasions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Christina Willis, 29, previously pled guilty to possession of the bombs, or destructive devices, one of which Willis placed on the vehicle of her ex-boyfriend in June 2025. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Willis to 78 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Willis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott Leary made the announcement and stated, \\u201cWe live in a wonderful country but it\\u2019s still a dangerous world, as confirmed by this case. When bombs are being produced an all-hands-on-deck response is required, which is what happened in this case. Federal, state and local law enforcement worked closely together in this coordinated investigation. The ATF and FBI working with the Lafayette County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Panola County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Yalobusha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Tupelo Police Department-this is what a successful investigation looks like. Well done.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cATF is dedicated to preventing and reducing violent crime involving the criminal use of explosives,\\u201d said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. \\u201cThe collaborative effort of federal and local law enforcement, led by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, secured a sentence today that sends a message that ATF will continue to investigate and perfect charges against those who use explosives. ATF will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and neighborhoods and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Robert Mims prosecuted this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:13:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074830\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\",\"name\":\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:51:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789073485\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"202609-07\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EChristina Willis was sentenced to more than six years for possessing homemade bombs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Batesville Woman Sentenced for Possessing Homemade Bombs, including One Found on Her Ex\\u0026#039;s Vehicle\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndms\\/pr\\/batesville-woman-sentenced-possessing-homemade-bombs-including-one-found-her-exs\",\"uuid\":\"66467eab-9017-4087-b7ae-33ea687004fc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Peabody, Mass., who served as a \\u201cgeneral\\u201d in Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a violent transnational criminal organization based in Brazil, has pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking and firearm charges. PCC is one of the largest cocaine distributors in the world and is responsible for acts of violence and firearms trafficking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdinazio Vinicius Soares Dias-Barbosa, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cPanda,\\u201d 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, being an alien in possession of firearms and ammunition and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2026. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint on July 30, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDias-Barbosa supplied fentanyl and cocaine to a drug trafficking network operating on the North Shore of Massachusetts. During the investigation, a search of Dias-Barbosa\\u2019s cell phone revealed numerous messages and photographs detailing his drug trafficking activities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460891\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/picture_1.png?itok=5vkO9crR\\u0022 width=\\u0022578\\u0022 height=\\u0022256\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Cellphone images of defendants drug trafficking activities\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 1, 2025, as part of the investigation, Dias-Barbosa was stopped on Interstate 95 in South Carolina. Dias-Barbosa consented to a search of his vehicle but fled on foot across the interstate just before the search began. He was apprehended in the grassy median. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, nine rifles and ammunition were seized from the floor of the rear passenger compartment. Dias-Barbosa admitted that he had purchased the firearms in South Carolina and was transporting them to a broker in Miami, who would arrange for the rifles to be transported to Brazil through Paraguay.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license each provide for a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of the Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Division; and Jack D. Buckley, Chief of Medford Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Everett, Framingham, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and Yemassee (S.C.) Police Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Massachusetts Army National Guard \\u2013 Counterdrug Office; and the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066711\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:49:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066182\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460891\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"897c7bb7-4ee4-4af2-9d14-2b0e2106ec24\"},\"alt\":\"Cellphone images of defendants drug trafficking activities\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"9236b2bc-57e7-420f-bea3-c9ffad36ef64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPORTLAND, Maine:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A Rumford man pleaded guilty on September 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, in May 2025, the Lewiston Police Department received multiple reports of gunshots. Callers reported a male had been shooting a firearm and then entered a dark-colored vehicle parked on the street. Upon arrival, police encountered \\u003Cstrong\\u003ETroy Blanchard\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 37, seated in the driver\\u2019s seat of a black vehicle. A standoff ensued with Blanchard ignoring police commands to exit the vehicle. Police were eventually able to remove Blanchard from the vehicle after firing pepper balls through the rear window. Police subsequently located a Kel-Tec .22 caliber pistol on the passenger seat next to Blanchard. At the time of his arrest, Blanchard was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBlanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:01:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070506\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maine\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:59:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070363\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBlanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rumford Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-me\\/pr\\/rumford-man-pleads-guilty-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"951bed6d-62ec-43bc-bae6-4ee3bfe9a746\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. \\u0026nbsp;Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. \\u0026nbsp;Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e13f1e08a208e08bb89bef8e1a1ec03\\u0022\\u003EOn April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e10a3330bdf28a5c5dce72319283b7eab\\u0022\\u003EOn December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e704a9ef458b7501bacb095c8248a575d\\u0022\\u003EOn December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb99672574729f3a26d18ed5be691e796\\u0022\\u003EOn January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e51e131cc41b52f17370dd35d27c5b1b7\\u0022\\u003EOn January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e851604b39eb6ad088ddf0d29143a815a\\u0022\\u003EOn January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. \\u0026nbsp;Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. \\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Hawaii.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:59:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:55:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088126\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/honolulu-man-involved-trans-pacific-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-10-years\",\"uuid\":\"6d3494ef-6812-4725-9a23-a56ee306fd4c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert J. Fundermann, age 50, from Anthon, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 10, 2026, to eighteen and a half years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on February 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2023 through April 2025, Fundermann distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Further evidence showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u0026nbsp; A review of Fundermann\\u2019s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation also revealed that Fundermann was previously convicted for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSC.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Fundermann to 222 months\\u2019 imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; Court file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The case file number is 25-4039.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:21:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075268\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:20:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075225\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Anthon, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/anthon-iowa-man-sentenced-over-18-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"8d1ffaae-440d-4f3c-86b7-3112893b125a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. \\u0026nbsp;After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. \\u0026nbsp;The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams\\u2019 Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams\\u2019s Ford Raptor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee\\u2019s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency\\u2019s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr163\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:27:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075668\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:24:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/district-man-sentenced-possession-firearm-after-ditching-cocaine-trafficking-evidence\",\"uuid\":\"3961ffa0-9d1c-4496-9b1d-eb21a1ea345a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for\\u0026nbsp;three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGolovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in or around February 2025, Golovchenko met a 12-year-old female online. Between February and April 2025, Golovchenko persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity over the social media application Snapchat. Golovchenko also employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;the FBI and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Courtney Derry.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:32:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789050755\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:30:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789050647\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for\\u0026nbsp;three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGolovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Oregon Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Coercing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/oregon-man-sentenced-25-years-coercing-minor-engage-sexual-activity-and-production\",\"uuid\":\"6d2299d1-ae79-41ca-a777-54bb972f27be\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETestimony at trial showed that Johnson \\u2014 who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses \\u2014 had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran \\u201cKrazyside Kennels\\u201d referred to his new operation as \\u201cMal Kant Kennels.\\u201d The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460961\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture1.png?itok=i4326WoJ\\u0022 width=\\u0022308\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460966\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture2.png?itok=Iu_huexy\\u0022 width=\\u0022307\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cAs Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.\\u0026nbsp;To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can\\u2019t hide from the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cWe are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. \\u201cI applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as \\u201cchampions\\u201d and \\u201cgrand champions,\\u201d meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and \\u201cstud fees\\u201d for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:11:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074702\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:39:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460961\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"751cf611-b05a-49ab-ae61-41447fabe1f8\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460966\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c6985aba-8b1e-4fa7-a885-c1527d42226c\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog2\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog2\"}],\"number\":\"26-1042\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"81e06cc2-8cd6-4ed0-b996-a226abd196b9\",\"name\":\"Animal Welfare\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-sentenced-5-years-prison-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and\",\"uuid\":\"50446941-bded-4e90-a5c0-fea110b9a7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Hudson, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEdwin Hernandez-Orellana, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served, approximately 16 months. The defendant is now subject to deportation proceedings. Previously, Hernandez-Orellana pled guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. According to court records, Hernandez-Orellana had been in custody since his arrest on May 14, 2025. Hernandez-Orellana was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Hernandez-Orellana was found in the United States on May 14, 2025, after previously having been removed from the United States on or about May 21, 2014. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julissa Walsh and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T10:36:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789137379\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:52:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789069946\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Hudson, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/guatemalan-national-sentenced-unlawful-reentry-0\",\"uuid\":\"950faeb4-6cfe-46d3-a5ba-a658e90d8286\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460896\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"aef4f133-87cc-4ff5-9325-f8d6844101ed\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460901\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"8959b511-a335-4fd9-801a-403f565823c6\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460906\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"5d69e7e0-4281-429c-945d-094588a0c433\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\u2013 Two men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman, 55, a Mexican national, and most recently of Missouri, and Michael Brandon Araiza, 27, of California were charged in a one-count Indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. They were arraigned on September 10, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court. Both entered pleas of not guilty.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo other defendants charged in the drug distribution conspiracy, Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal and Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego, both of California, previously entered guilty pleas before Judge Semper to separate Informations charging them with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Villarreal was sentenced to 57 months\\u2019 imprisonment on August 7, 2026; sentencing for Samaniego is scheduled for November 9, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPelayo-Guzman is associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operating in Mexico and a principal member of a Kansas City-based drug trafficking organization involved in the international and interstate transportation and distribution of narcotics. Beginning in January 2025, Pelayo-Guzman, Araiza, Villarreal, and Samaniego conspired to transport large quantities of cocaine to New Jersey. Specifically, Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza traveled to New Jersey in April 2025 and arranged for a shipment of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine to be delivered to Newark, New Jersey from California via a truck driven by Villarreal and Samaniego. After delivering the approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for over $300,000 in cash, law enforcement officers arrested Villarreal and Samaniego. Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza were arrested shortly afterwards.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge in the Indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the Indictment. He also thanked the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge\\u0026nbsp;Jenifer Piovesan\\u0026nbsp;in Newark; the Monmouth County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago; the Ocean County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes; the Newark Department of Public Safety, Newark Police Division, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber; the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; the Neptune Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Anthony Gualario; the Ocean Gate Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Kuchta; and the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Philip Corbisiero, for their assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener noreferrer\\u0022 data-interception=\\u0022off\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDefense counsel:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman:\\u0026nbsp;Adalgiza A. N\\u00fa\\u00f1ez, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMichael Brandon Araiza: Patrick J. Joyce, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJose Manuel Amaya Villarreal: Perry Primavera, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EReymond Alex Avina Samaniego:\\u0026nbsp;Joseph D. Rotella, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460906\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460906\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=928925\\u0022 title=\\u0022guzmanetal.indictment.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Eguzmanetal.indictment.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460901\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460901\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=145375\\u0022 title=\\u0022samaniego.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Esamaniego.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460896\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460896\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=118948\\u0022 title=\\u0022villarreal.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Evillarreal.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:09:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067380\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:43:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065820\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-195\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Men, including a Mexican National, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/two-men-including-mexican-national-indicted-drug-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"d280930c-43d9-46a9-9adc-2ddf8f81c535\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Baltimore man faces indictment stemming from multiple armed robberies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury charged Carlos Moody, 38, with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in connection with the armed robberies of three Baltimore cellphone stores.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, in late December 2025, Moody robbed three different cellphone stores, located in the southern and northern areas of Baltimore, in a four-day period.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is not a finding of guilt.\\u0026nbsp;Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Moody faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on each of the three counts alleged in the indictment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes\\u0026nbsp;commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ty Pittinger and John W. Sippel, Jr.,\\u0026nbsp;who are prosecuting the federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:38:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789069093\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:34:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789068858\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Baltimore man faces indictment stemming from multiple armed robberies. A federal grand jury charged Carlos Moody, 38, with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in connection with the armed robberies of three Baltimore cellphone stores.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Baltimore Man Indicted in Connection With Armed Robberies of Three Cellphone Stores \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/baltimore-man-indicted-connection-armed-robberies-three-cellphone-stores\",\"uuid\":\"be635d36-0461-4cde-84cb-be3d4db14cda\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to reports, on or about August 18, 2026, West was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of approximately thirty-seven pounds of a substance which appeared to be cocaine. Presumptive testing yielded positive results for cocaine which would have an estimated street value of around $400,000. Additionally, West was also found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm pistol.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney April Leon leads the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052959\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052811\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"BATON ROUGE MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF COCAINE \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdla\\/pr\\/baton-rouge-man-indicted-possessing-intent-distribute-approximately-thirty-seven\",\"uuid\":\"04d01bed-b584-457b-bdc2-8d12fff2b785\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate\\u2019s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate\\u2019s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlthough Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A.\\u0026nbsp;Bashant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Danks\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Age: 69\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Irvine, CA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1512(b)(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EObstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1503\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPerjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1623(a)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCY\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:50:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:48:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789076917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Danks\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-director-nasdaq-company-convicted-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"6b563bf0-0bc4-4013-acf6-71439e238bc8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT was arrested\\u0026nbsp;in Jamaica\\u0026nbsp;on August 28, 2025,\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;subsequently\\u0026nbsp;extradited to the United States on October 22, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;In June 2026, he pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence reflects the seriousness of schemes that deliberately target elderly victims and strip them of their financial security,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cJordan Trought defrauded hundreds of elderly victims out of millions of dollars, taking advantage of their age to rob them of their hard-earned life savings.\\u0026nbsp; In doing so, he and his co-conspirators imposed devastating financial consequences on their victims.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least 2015 through at least 2025, TROUGHT and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the \\u201cElder Fraud Scheme\\u201d), through which TROUGHT and his co-conspirators defrauded more than 200 elderly victims of more than $9 million.\\u0026nbsp; Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name\\u2014e.g., \\u201cDavid Miller\\u201d\\u2014claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.\\u0026nbsp;The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.\\u0026nbsp; Victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, and cash, as well as by wire, Zelle, and Venmo transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT and his co-conspirators also gained control of some victims\\u2019 bank accounts, which they used to transfer money out of and through those accounts.\\u0026nbsp; Victims\\u2019 funds were ultimately transferred to associates of TROUGHT and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business operated by TROUGHT in Jamaica.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETROUGHT, a citizen of Jamaica, operated the Elder Fraud Scheme from Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in both Jamaica and the United States.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT joined the fraud ring in or around March 2021 and became one of its leaders.\\u0026nbsp;TROUGHT is being held responsible for more than $6 million stolen from more than 100 victims from March 2021 through TROUGHT\\u2019s arrest in August 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the prison term, TROUGHT, 31, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $6,166,227.00.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation.\\u0026nbsp; Mr.\\u0026nbsp;McDonald\\u0026nbsp;also thanked the\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice\\u2019s Office of International Affairs,\\u0026nbsp;and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing\\u0026nbsp;TROUGHT\\u2019s arrest and extradition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:37:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789047436\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:35:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789047337\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-253\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jamaican National Sentenced To Eight Years For Role In Sweepstakes Fraud Targeting Older Americans\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/jamaican-national-sentenced-eight-years-role-sweepstakes-fraud-targeting-older\",\"uuid\":\"acd2ab44-a895-426b-be9d-c932094a1333\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u0026nbsp; In April 2026, a federal jury\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-convicted-jury-child-sexual-exploitation-charges\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Lopez-Guevara of 14 counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) \\u2013 Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and State\\u2019s Attorney Tara H. Jackson, Prince George\\u2019s County State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office (PGCSAO).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2024, Lopez-Guevara sexually abused three minors, ranging from 2 to 11 years old at the time of the abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Lopez-Guevara, who lived in Laurel and Baltimore, produced images and videos of himself and the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, many of which were found on the dark web.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, HSI initiated an investigation after its investigators in Portland, Maine, observed previously unseen child sexual abuse videos on the internet.\\u0026nbsp; After identifying Minor Victim 1 in the videos, and determining that he lived in Maryland, investigators quickly referred the matter to HSI Maryland.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI then executed several search warrants in Maryland and discovered Lopez-Guevara in possession of two phones.\\u0026nbsp;Investigators forensically examined the phones and discovered additional images of Lopez-Guevara sexually abusing Minor Victim 1, along with depictions of Lopez-Guevara exploiting Minor Victim 2 and Minor Victim 3. Additionally, investigators found hundreds of CSAM images and videos on the phone associated with an encrypted messaging application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKnow2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\/key-definitions#CSEA\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Echild sexual exploitation and abuse\\u003C\\/a\\u003E; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.\\u0026nbsp; Learn more about Know2Protect at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, BCPD, PGCSAO, for their work in the investigation, along with the Center for Hope, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Victoria Liu who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources\\u0026nbsp;available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:34:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065277\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/honduran-illegal-alien-sentenced-more-six-decades-federal-prison-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"68c2d4bf-fcda-41be-9d27-5f437c0afd0c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cOur state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe, and work hard every day to accomplish that mission, as evidenced by this investigation that led to our successful prosecution. Following the law is not optional, and my office stands ready to hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant used a 3D printer to print machine gun diversion devices for AR-15 rifles and then sold them online. The device inserts into an AR-15 rifle and converts it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. An undercover ATF officer purchased 12 conversion devices from the defendant on two occasions before obtaining a search warrant for his home, where they found the 3D printer, printing material, and 13 additional devices.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Patterson and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:19:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:16:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-firearms-offense\",\"uuid\":\"5a663aec-fe2c-40e4-96bb-b6a144a025df\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Adam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThrough his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the United States Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence underscores that we always stand ready\\u2014even years later and on the other side of an ocean\\u2014to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAdam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\u201cThere is nothing honorable about subjecting the most vulnerable in our community to violence and sexual exploitation. We are grateful for the strength and courage of the survivors in this case who came forward to end this man\\u2019s reign of terror.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cSchlueter\\u2019s horrific abuse inflicted lasting trauma on children who should have been protected from harm,\\u201d said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. \\u201cThe FBI will continue to pursue those who prey upon children and hold them accountable for their crimes, no matter how much time has passed. We hope today\\u2019s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims and reinforces that we will never stop fighting to protect children.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From 2009 until 2013, while stationed in Grafenw\\u00f6hr, Germany, Schlueter physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. Schlueter choked and physically beat both minors repeatedly. When one victim was just eight years old, Schlueter pushed her through a second-story window and let her dangle dangerously above the ground. Schlueter sexually assaulted both children when they were under the age of 10. Schlueter used threats of pain and death to dissuade his victims and witnesses from disclosing the abuse to authorities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2014, after discovering Schlueter\\u2019s physical abuse of the children, the U.S. Army discharged Schlueter under Other Than Honorable conditions. In 2021, the Army\\u2019s Criminal Investigations Division learned that Schlueter had also sexually assaulted the child. In 2023, a grand jury returned an indictment against Schlueter pursuant to the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (\\u201cMEJA\\u201d), which is a federal statute that allows the government to prosecute former servicemembers who committed certain crimes outside the United States while serving in the Armed Forces.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, Adam Schlueter, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to life in prison. On April 17, 2026, a jury convicted Schlueter of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Department of the Army \\u2013 Criminal Investigations Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Matthew R. LaGrone, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters, and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon provided valuable assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:11:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071096\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:07:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070853\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAdam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Soldier Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Minors While Serving Abroad\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/former-soldier-sentenced-life-federal-prison-physically-and-sexually-assaulting-minors\",\"uuid\":\"7845d500-0708-4941-b830-30f288bde6c6\"}]}", "content_length": 97938, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json" }

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    "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":4},\"executionTime\":2.5506141185760498},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cMy team of tenacious federal prosecutors continues to deliver outstanding trial victories to hold accountable any and all criminals who brazenly violate our laws. My thanks go out to our state and federal law enforcement partners, whose excellent investigative work led to this successful prosecution.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records and trial testimony revealed that on February 10, 2026, during a law enforcement investigation, a search warrant was executed on the defendant\\u2019s residence. Two loaded handguns were discovered in the defendant\\u2019s nightstand. The defendant was previously convicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, in 2011 of three felonies, including two counts of conspiracy to steal or misapply funds from an organization that receives federal assistance and to commit wire fraud and aiding and abetting or misapplying funds as a credit union employee. The defendant was terminated from his position as the City Manager of Quincy in June 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was jointly investigated by the Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049490\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:09:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049344\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Quincy City Manager Found Guilty of Firearm Possession as Convicted Felon\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/former-quincy-city-manager-found-guilty-firearm-possession-convicted-felon\",\"uuid\":\"e31c5f2a-c779-4a26-85f7-44dbe4de167d\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460981\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"1e38b3c1-851a-401d-ada2-0bcb42a5e3bb\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOxford, MS \\u2013 A Batesville woman was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison for possessing one or more homemade bombs on separate occasions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Christina Willis, 29, previously pled guilty to possession of the bombs, or destructive devices, one of which Willis placed on the vehicle of her ex-boyfriend in June 2025. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Willis to 78 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Willis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott Leary made the announcement and stated, \\u201cWe live in a wonderful country but it\\u2019s still a dangerous world, as confirmed by this case. When bombs are being produced an all-hands-on-deck response is required, which is what happened in this case. Federal, state and local law enforcement worked closely together in this coordinated investigation. The ATF and FBI working with the Lafayette County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Panola County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Yalobusha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Tupelo Police Department-this is what a successful investigation looks like. Well done.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cATF is dedicated to preventing and reducing violent crime involving the criminal use of explosives,\\u201d said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. \\u201cThe collaborative effort of federal and local law enforcement, led by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, secured a sentence today that sends a message that ATF will continue to investigate and perfect charges against those who use explosives. ATF will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and neighborhoods and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Robert Mims prosecuted this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:13:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074830\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\",\"name\":\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:51:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789073485\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"202609-07\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EChristina Willis was sentenced to more than six years for possessing homemade bombs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Batesville Woman Sentenced for Possessing Homemade Bombs, including One Found on Her Ex\\u0026#039;s Vehicle\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndms\\/pr\\/batesville-woman-sentenced-possessing-homemade-bombs-including-one-found-her-exs\",\"uuid\":\"66467eab-9017-4087-b7ae-33ea687004fc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Peabody, Mass., who served as a \\u201cgeneral\\u201d in Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a violent transnational criminal organization based in Brazil, has pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking and firearm charges. PCC is one of the largest cocaine distributors in the world and is responsible for acts of violence and firearms trafficking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdinazio Vinicius Soares Dias-Barbosa, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cPanda,\\u201d 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, being an alien in possession of firearms and ammunition and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2026. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint on July 30, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDias-Barbosa supplied fentanyl and cocaine to a drug trafficking network operating on the North Shore of Massachusetts. During the investigation, a search of Dias-Barbosa\\u2019s cell phone revealed numerous messages and photographs detailing his drug trafficking activities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460891\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/picture_1.png?itok=5vkO9crR\\u0022 width=\\u0022578\\u0022 height=\\u0022256\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Cellphone images of defendants drug trafficking activities\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 1, 2025, as part of the investigation, Dias-Barbosa was stopped on Interstate 95 in South Carolina. Dias-Barbosa consented to a search of his vehicle but fled on foot across the interstate just before the search began. He was apprehended in the grassy median. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, nine rifles and ammunition were seized from the floor of the rear passenger compartment. Dias-Barbosa admitted that he had purchased the firearms in South Carolina and was transporting them to a broker in Miami, who would arrange for the rifles to be transported to Brazil through Paraguay.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license each provide for a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of the Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Division; and Jack D. Buckley, Chief of Medford Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Everett, Framingham, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and Yemassee (S.C.) Police Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Massachusetts Army National Guard \\u2013 Counterdrug Office; and the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066711\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:49:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066182\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460891\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"897c7bb7-4ee4-4af2-9d14-2b0e2106ec24\"},\"alt\":\"Cellphone images of defendants drug trafficking activities\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"9236b2bc-57e7-420f-bea3-c9ffad36ef64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPORTLAND, Maine:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A Rumford man pleaded guilty on September 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, in May 2025, the Lewiston Police Department received multiple reports of gunshots. Callers reported a male had been shooting a firearm and then entered a dark-colored vehicle parked on the street. Upon arrival, police encountered \\u003Cstrong\\u003ETroy Blanchard\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 37, seated in the driver\\u2019s seat of a black vehicle. A standoff ensued with Blanchard ignoring police commands to exit the vehicle. Police were eventually able to remove Blanchard from the vehicle after firing pepper balls through the rear window. Police subsequently located a Kel-Tec .22 caliber pistol on the passenger seat next to Blanchard. At the time of his arrest, Blanchard was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBlanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:01:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070506\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maine\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:59:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070363\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBlanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rumford Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-me\\/pr\\/rumford-man-pleads-guilty-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"951bed6d-62ec-43bc-bae6-4ee3bfe9a746\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. \\u0026nbsp;Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. \\u0026nbsp;Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e13f1e08a208e08bb89bef8e1a1ec03\\u0022\\u003EOn April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e10a3330bdf28a5c5dce72319283b7eab\\u0022\\u003EOn December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e704a9ef458b7501bacb095c8248a575d\\u0022\\u003EOn December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb99672574729f3a26d18ed5be691e796\\u0022\\u003EOn January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e51e131cc41b52f17370dd35d27c5b1b7\\u0022\\u003EOn January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e851604b39eb6ad088ddf0d29143a815a\\u0022\\u003EOn January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. \\u0026nbsp;Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. \\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Hawaii.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:59:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:55:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088126\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/honolulu-man-involved-trans-pacific-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-10-years\",\"uuid\":\"6d3494ef-6812-4725-9a23-a56ee306fd4c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert J. Fundermann, age 50, from Anthon, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 10, 2026, to eighteen and a half years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on February 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2023 through April 2025, Fundermann distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Further evidence showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u0026nbsp; A review of Fundermann\\u2019s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation also revealed that Fundermann was previously convicted for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSC.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Fundermann to 222 months\\u2019 imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; Court file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The case file number is 25-4039.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:21:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075268\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:20:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075225\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Anthon, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in  Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/anthon-iowa-man-sentenced-over-18-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"8d1ffaae-440d-4f3c-86b7-3112893b125a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. \\u0026nbsp;After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. \\u0026nbsp;The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams\\u2019 Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams\\u2019s Ford Raptor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee\\u2019s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency\\u2019s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr163\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:27:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075668\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:24:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/district-man-sentenced-possession-firearm-after-ditching-cocaine-trafficking-evidence\",\"uuid\":\"3961ffa0-9d1c-4496-9b1d-eb21a1ea345a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for\\u0026nbsp;three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGolovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in or around February 2025, Golovchenko met a 12-year-old female online. Between February and April 2025, Golovchenko persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity over the social media application Snapchat. Golovchenko also employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;the FBI and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Courtney Derry.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:32:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789050755\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:30:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789050647\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for\\u0026nbsp;three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGolovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Oregon Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Coercing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/oregon-man-sentenced-25-years-coercing-minor-engage-sexual-activity-and-production\",\"uuid\":\"6d2299d1-ae79-41ca-a777-54bb972f27be\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETestimony at trial showed that Johnson \\u2014 who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses \\u2014 had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran \\u201cKrazyside Kennels\\u201d referred to his new operation as \\u201cMal Kant Kennels.\\u201d The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460961\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture1.png?itok=i4326WoJ\\u0022 width=\\u0022308\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460966\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture2.png?itok=Iu_huexy\\u0022 width=\\u0022307\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cAs Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.\\u0026nbsp;To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can\\u2019t hide from the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cWe are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. \\u201cI applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as \\u201cchampions\\u201d and \\u201cgrand champions,\\u201d meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and \\u201cstud fees\\u201d for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:11:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074702\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:39:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460961\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"751cf611-b05a-49ab-ae61-41447fabe1f8\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460966\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c6985aba-8b1e-4fa7-a885-c1527d42226c\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog2\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog2\"}],\"number\":\"26-1042\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"81e06cc2-8cd6-4ed0-b996-a226abd196b9\",\"name\":\"Animal Welfare\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-sentenced-5-years-prison-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and\",\"uuid\":\"50446941-bded-4e90-a5c0-fea110b9a7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Hudson, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEdwin Hernandez-Orellana, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served, approximately 16 months. The defendant is now subject to deportation proceedings. Previously, Hernandez-Orellana pled guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. According to court records, Hernandez-Orellana had been in custody since his arrest on May 14, 2025. Hernandez-Orellana was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Hernandez-Orellana was found in the United States on May 14, 2025, after previously having been removed from the United States on or about May 21, 2014. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julissa Walsh and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T10:36:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789137379\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:52:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789069946\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Hudson, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/guatemalan-national-sentenced-unlawful-reentry-0\",\"uuid\":\"950faeb4-6cfe-46d3-a5ba-a658e90d8286\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460896\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"aef4f133-87cc-4ff5-9325-f8d6844101ed\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460901\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"8959b511-a335-4fd9-801a-403f565823c6\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460906\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"5d69e7e0-4281-429c-945d-094588a0c433\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\u2013 Two men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman, 55, a Mexican national, and most recently of Missouri, and Michael Brandon Araiza, 27, of California were charged in a one-count Indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. They were arraigned on September 10, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court. Both entered pleas of not guilty.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo other defendants charged in the drug distribution conspiracy, Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal and Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego, both of California, previously entered guilty pleas before Judge Semper to separate Informations charging them with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Villarreal was sentenced to 57 months\\u2019 imprisonment on August 7, 2026; sentencing for Samaniego is scheduled for November 9, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPelayo-Guzman is associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operating in Mexico and a principal member of a Kansas City-based drug trafficking organization involved in the international and interstate transportation and distribution of narcotics. Beginning in January 2025, Pelayo-Guzman, Araiza, Villarreal, and Samaniego conspired to transport large quantities of cocaine to New Jersey. Specifically, Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza traveled to New Jersey in April 2025 and arranged for a shipment of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine to be delivered to Newark, New Jersey from California via a truck driven by Villarreal and Samaniego. After delivering the approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for over $300,000 in cash, law enforcement officers arrested Villarreal and Samaniego. Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza were arrested shortly afterwards.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge in the Indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the Indictment. He also thanked the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge\\u0026nbsp;Jenifer Piovesan\\u0026nbsp;in Newark; the Monmouth County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago; the Ocean County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes; the Newark Department of Public Safety, Newark Police Division, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber; the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; the Neptune Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Anthony Gualario; the Ocean Gate Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Kuchta; and the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Philip Corbisiero, for their assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener noreferrer\\u0022 data-interception=\\u0022off\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDefense counsel:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman:\\u0026nbsp;Adalgiza A. N\\u00fa\\u00f1ez, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMichael Brandon Araiza: Patrick J. Joyce, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJose Manuel Amaya Villarreal: Perry Primavera, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EReymond Alex Avina Samaniego:\\u0026nbsp;Joseph D. Rotella, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460906\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n                                      \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n            \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460906\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=928925\\u0022 title=\\u0022guzmanetal.indictment.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Eguzmanetal.indictment.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n                      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n                    \\n  \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460901\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n                                      \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n            \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460901\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=145375\\u0022 title=\\u0022samaniego.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Esamaniego.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n                      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n                    \\n  \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460896\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n                                      \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n            \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460896\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=118948\\u0022 title=\\u0022villarreal.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Evillarreal.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n                      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n                    \\n  \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:09:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067380\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:43:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065820\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-195\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Men, including a Mexican National, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/two-men-including-mexican-national-indicted-drug-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"d280930c-43d9-46a9-9adc-2ddf8f81c535\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Baltimore man faces indictment stemming from multiple armed robberies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury charged Carlos Moody, 38, with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in connection with the armed robberies of three Baltimore cellphone stores.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, in late December 2025, Moody robbed three different cellphone stores, located in the southern and northern areas of Baltimore, in a four-day period.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is not a finding of guilt.\\u0026nbsp;Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Moody faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on each of the three counts alleged in the indictment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes\\u0026nbsp;commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ty Pittinger and John W. Sippel, Jr.,\\u0026nbsp;who are prosecuting the federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:38:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789069093\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:34:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789068858\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Baltimore man faces indictment stemming from multiple armed robberies. A federal grand jury charged Carlos Moody, 38, with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in connection with the armed robberies of three Baltimore cellphone stores.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Baltimore Man Indicted in Connection With Armed Robberies of Three Cellphone Stores \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/baltimore-man-indicted-connection-armed-robberies-three-cellphone-stores\",\"uuid\":\"be635d36-0461-4cde-84cb-be3d4db14cda\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to reports, on or about August 18, 2026, West was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of approximately thirty-seven pounds of a substance which appeared to be cocaine. Presumptive testing yielded positive results for cocaine which would have an estimated street value of around $400,000. Additionally, West was also found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm pistol.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney April Leon leads the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052959\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052811\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"BATON ROUGE MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF COCAINE  \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdla\\/pr\\/baton-rouge-man-indicted-possessing-intent-distribute-approximately-thirty-seven\",\"uuid\":\"04d01bed-b584-457b-bdc2-8d12fff2b785\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate\\u2019s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate\\u2019s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlthough Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A.\\u0026nbsp;Bashant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Danks\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Age: 69\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Irvine, CA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1512(b)(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EObstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1503\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPerjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1623(a)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCY\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:50:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:48:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789076917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Danks\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-director-nasdaq-company-convicted-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"6b563bf0-0bc4-4013-acf6-71439e238bc8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT was arrested\\u0026nbsp;in Jamaica\\u0026nbsp;on August 28, 2025,\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;subsequently\\u0026nbsp;extradited to the United States on October 22, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;In June 2026, he pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence reflects the seriousness of schemes that deliberately target elderly victims and strip them of their financial security,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cJordan Trought defrauded hundreds of elderly victims out of millions of dollars, taking advantage of their age to rob them of their hard-earned life savings.\\u0026nbsp; In doing so, he and his co-conspirators imposed devastating financial consequences on their victims.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least 2015 through at least 2025, TROUGHT and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the \\u201cElder Fraud Scheme\\u201d), through which TROUGHT and his co-conspirators defrauded more than 200 elderly victims of more than $9 million.\\u0026nbsp; Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name\\u2014e.g., \\u201cDavid Miller\\u201d\\u2014claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.\\u0026nbsp;The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.\\u0026nbsp; Victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, and cash, as well as by wire, Zelle, and Venmo transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT and his co-conspirators also gained control of some victims\\u2019 bank accounts, which they used to transfer money out of and through those accounts.\\u0026nbsp; Victims\\u2019 funds were ultimately transferred to associates of TROUGHT and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business operated by TROUGHT in Jamaica.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETROUGHT, a citizen of Jamaica, operated the Elder Fraud Scheme from Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in both Jamaica and the United States.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT joined the fraud ring in or around March 2021 and became one of its leaders.\\u0026nbsp;TROUGHT is being held responsible for more than $6 million stolen from more than 100 victims from March 2021 through TROUGHT\\u2019s arrest in August 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the prison term, TROUGHT, 31, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $6,166,227.00.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation.\\u0026nbsp; Mr.\\u0026nbsp;McDonald\\u0026nbsp;also thanked the\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice\\u2019s Office of International Affairs,\\u0026nbsp;and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing\\u0026nbsp;TROUGHT\\u2019s arrest and extradition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:37:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789047436\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:35:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789047337\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-253\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jamaican National Sentenced To Eight Years For Role In Sweepstakes Fraud Targeting Older Americans\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/jamaican-national-sentenced-eight-years-role-sweepstakes-fraud-targeting-older\",\"uuid\":\"acd2ab44-a895-426b-be9d-c932094a1333\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u0026nbsp; In April 2026, a federal jury\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-convicted-jury-child-sexual-exploitation-charges\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Lopez-Guevara of 14 counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) \\u2013 Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and State\\u2019s Attorney Tara H. Jackson, Prince George\\u2019s County State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office (PGCSAO).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2024, Lopez-Guevara sexually abused three minors, ranging from 2 to 11 years old at the time of the abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Lopez-Guevara, who lived in Laurel and Baltimore, produced images and videos of himself and the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, many of which were found on the dark web.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, HSI initiated an investigation after its investigators in Portland, Maine, observed previously unseen child sexual abuse videos on the internet.\\u0026nbsp; After identifying Minor Victim 1 in the videos, and determining that he lived in Maryland, investigators quickly referred the matter to HSI Maryland.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI then executed several search warrants in Maryland and discovered Lopez-Guevara in possession of two phones.\\u0026nbsp;Investigators forensically examined the phones and discovered additional images of Lopez-Guevara sexually abusing Minor Victim 1, along with depictions of Lopez-Guevara exploiting Minor Victim 2 and Minor Victim 3. Additionally, investigators found hundreds of CSAM images and videos on the phone associated with an encrypted messaging application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKnow2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\/key-definitions#CSEA\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Echild sexual exploitation and abuse\\u003C\\/a\\u003E; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.\\u0026nbsp; Learn more about Know2Protect at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, BCPD, PGCSAO, for their work in the investigation, along with the Center for Hope, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Victoria Liu who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources\\u0026nbsp;available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:34:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065277\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/honduran-illegal-alien-sentenced-more-six-decades-federal-prison-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"68c2d4bf-fcda-41be-9d27-5f437c0afd0c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cOur state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe, and work hard every day to accomplish that mission, as evidenced by this investigation that led to our successful prosecution. Following the law is not optional, and my office stands ready to hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant used a 3D printer to print machine gun diversion devices for AR-15 rifles and then sold them online. The device inserts into an AR-15 rifle and converts it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. An undercover ATF officer purchased 12 conversion devices from the defendant on two occasions before obtaining a search warrant for his home, where they found the 3D printer, printing material, and 13 additional devices.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Patterson and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:19:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:16:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-firearms-offense\",\"uuid\":\"5a663aec-fe2c-40e4-96bb-b6a144a025df\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Adam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThrough his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the United States Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence underscores that we always stand ready\\u2014even years later and on the other side of an ocean\\u2014to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAdam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\u201cThere is nothing honorable about subjecting the most vulnerable in our community to violence and sexual exploitation. We are grateful for the strength and courage of the survivors in this case who came forward to end this man\\u2019s reign of terror.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cSchlueter\\u2019s horrific abuse inflicted lasting trauma on children who should have been protected from harm,\\u201d said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. \\u201cThe FBI will continue to pursue those who prey upon children and hold them accountable for their crimes, no matter how much time has passed. We hope today\\u2019s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims and reinforces that we will never stop fighting to protect children.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From 2009 until 2013, while stationed in Grafenw\\u00f6hr, Germany, Schlueter physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. Schlueter choked and physically beat both minors repeatedly. When one victim was just eight years old, Schlueter pushed her through a second-story window and let her dangle dangerously above the ground. Schlueter sexually assaulted both children when they were under the age of 10. Schlueter used threats of pain and death to dissuade his victims and witnesses from disclosing the abuse to authorities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2014, after discovering Schlueter\\u2019s physical abuse of the children, the U.S. Army discharged Schlueter under Other Than Honorable conditions. In 2021, the Army\\u2019s Criminal Investigations Division learned that Schlueter had also sexually assaulted the child. In 2023, a grand jury returned an indictment against Schlueter pursuant to the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (\\u201cMEJA\\u201d), which is a federal statute that allows the government to prosecute former servicemembers who committed certain crimes outside the United States while serving in the Armed Forces.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, Adam Schlueter, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to life in prison. On April 17, 2026, a jury convicted Schlueter of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Department of the Army \\u2013 Criminal Investigations Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Matthew R. LaGrone, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters, and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon provided valuable assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:11:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071096\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:07:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070853\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAdam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Soldier Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Minors While Serving Abroad\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/former-soldier-sentenced-life-federal-prison-physically-and-sexually-assaulting-minors\",\"uuid\":\"7845d500-0708-4941-b830-30f288bde6c6\"}]}",
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Tool Progress E0051

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Tool Result E0052

{ "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":5},\"executionTime\":2.5378479957580566},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 An Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E37, living in San Antonio, Texas,\\u0026nbsp;to 30 months\\u2019 imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Chagamreddy was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cElder fraud schemes are despicable, calculated attacks that prey on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community. In this case, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa used fear to deceive and extort a Vietnam veteran who served our country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. \\u201cBecause the victim came forward, and thanks to law enforcement\\u2019s coordinated, swift response and the efforts of AUSAs Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster, Chagamreddy was brought to justice. Our office remains committed to protecting older Americans from predatory fraud and ensuring foreign scammers who take advantage of their country\\u2019s immigration system are held fully accountable for their crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2025, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with \\u201cMicrosoft,\\u201d the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. Someone then contacted the victim and identified themselves as a federal officer, providing a false badge number.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being \\u201cinvestigated,\\u201d and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.\\u0026nbsp;The elderly victim was transferred to the \\u201cTreasury Department\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;and told he needed to transfer his money into gold and that an \\u201cofficer\\u201d would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed over the package.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA few days later, the fake federal officer contacted the victim again and demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. With the victim\\u0027s cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup. When Chagamreddy arrived at the victim\\u2019s home at the scheduled time and date, he was arrested. Evidence presented to the jury showed that he had $500 in cash, a cell phone, and 23 ounces of gold in\\u0026nbsp;the vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn agent testified about the messaging found on Chagamreddy\\u2019s phone. The exhibits shown to the jury clearly show he worked with another individual to defraud numerous victims within 48 hours. The agent testified that Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he picked up gold from an 87-year-old woman. Trial evidence showed that after delivering the gold to a different co-conspirator, Chagamreddy sent a photo of a dollar bill with \\u201c29 oz rec 3000 paid\\u201d written on it.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe messages indicate that the following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin, Texas, to Andale, Kansas, starting at 1:21 am. Throughout the drive, Chagamreddy would provide status updates, including screenshots of his location and fuel levels, to the co-conspirator. Upon arrival, Chagamreddy booked a hotel room to rest for a few hours and then drove to the destination he had been directed to. The co-conspirator described the 75-year-old woman from whom Chagamreddy would be picking up gold. Chagamreddy then sent the co-conspirator a photo of a sealed box with a message that read, \\u201c23 Oz.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter completing that trip, the agent testified that the messaging showed that Chagamreddy then drove to Delaware County, Oklahoma. The co-conspirator described the 79-year-old that he would be getting gold from and provided a photo of the victim, who was visibly wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt. The agent explained that the victim lived alone on a rural road and that Chagamreddy was actively providing photos, showing that he was lost. After finding the location, Chagamreddy provided one photo confirming that he arrived and was detained shortly after by Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s deputies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2025, the Department of Justice\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/media\\/1416301\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Ereported\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;to Congress that it took more than 280 enforcement actions against more than 600 defendants, many of whom were in the United States illegally or were extradited to be prosecuted. Collectively, the defendants attempted to steal, or stole, over $2.3 billion from more than one million Americans. The Department pursued more than 40 types of elder fraud. Investment fraud ranked number one, with more than $1.8 billion in losses, followed by fraudulent tech support at $982 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Elder Justice Initiative\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/about-elder-abuse\\u0022\\u003Ewebsite\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;provides several scenarios and red flags to help educate yourself and loved ones about the types of abuse, including financial exploitation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDelaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Attorney General\\u2019s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETo find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)\\u0026nbsp;10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday \\u2013 Friday. Elder Justice Neighborhood Resources for Oklahoma are available\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/support\\/resources-neighborhood?field_state=OK\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:41:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072908\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:34:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072468\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Indian Citizen in the United States on Student Visa Sentenced for Defrauding a Vietnam Veteran\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\",\"name\":\"Elder Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/indian-citizen-united-states-student-visa-sentenced-defrauding-vietnam-veteran\",\"uuid\":\"ba0d8869-9d09-4e0d-b49a-7e9cb1eb7e95\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:15:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067733\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/atoka-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E appointment for four minors in Madison County.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor\\u2019s deceased father.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor\\u2019s account without special order from the court.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that during his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Eappointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors\\u2019 bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors\\u2019 accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EElliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors\\u2019 accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cConduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056050\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/former-bethalto-attorney-accused-stealing-over-400000-minor-clients\",\"uuid\":\"5318c323-fc31-43a3-a20c-982b0fcaded7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate\\u2019s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate\\u2019s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlthough Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A.\\u0026nbsp;Bashant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Danks\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Age: 69\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Irvine, CA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1512(b)(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EObstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1503\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPerjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1623(a)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCY\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:50:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:48:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789076917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Danks\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-director-nasdaq-company-convicted-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"6b563bf0-0bc4-4013-acf6-71439e238bc8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn illegal alien who returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced yesterday to three months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMario Noel Rodriguez Castillo, age 51, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Iowa City, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 30, 2026, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the guilty plea, Rodriguez Castillo admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.\\u0026nbsp; Rodriguez Castillo was previously deported in 1996, 2002, and 2005.\\u0026nbsp; On May 21, 2026, immigration officials learned Rodriguez Castillo had illegally returned to the United States and found him at the Johnson County Jail following his arrest on state charges.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo was previously convicted of drug trafficking charges in Utah in 1996 and 1997.\\u0026nbsp; In 1998 he was convicted of reentry of a deported alien in federal court in Utah.\\u0026nbsp; In 2003, he was convicted of deported alien found in the United States in federal court in California.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.\\u0026nbsp; Rodriguez Castillo was sentenced to 94 days\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 26-cr-44.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:36:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058179\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:32:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789057941\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Reentering the United States After Being Deported Three Times\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-prison-reentering-united-states-after-being-deported-three\",\"uuid\":\"6a0d22f7-ff31-4c72-a806-7e304a6fca53\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. \\u0026nbsp;After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. \\u0026nbsp;The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams\\u2019 Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams\\u2019s Ford Raptor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee\\u2019s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency\\u2019s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr163\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:27:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075668\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:24:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/district-man-sentenced-possession-firearm-after-ditching-cocaine-trafficking-evidence\",\"uuid\":\"3961ffa0-9d1c-4496-9b1d-eb21a1ea345a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man who received and possessed child pornography was sentenced today to more than 27 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMatthew Jason Manos, age 42, from Coggon, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 11, 2026, jury verdict finding him guilty of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, including a depiction of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe evidence at trial and sentencing showed that in February 2023, law enforcement officers searched Manos\\u2019s residence in Coggon and took his cell phone.\\u0026nbsp; Between December 2022 and February 2023, Manos had downloaded images of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; He viewed the images on his cell phone multiple times.\\u0026nbsp; Manos then fled Iowa, abandoning his pets in his home where the pets were later rescued by law enforcement.\\u0026nbsp; Manos ultimately moved to Illinois, where he was arrested in August 2023.\\u0026nbsp; During his arrest, law enforcement officers took his new cell phone.\\u0026nbsp; Evidence showed that Manos had used that new phone to access child pornography as well.\\u0026nbsp; Manos was previously convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, lascivious acts with a child, lascivious conduct with a child, dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors, and indecent exposure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E and click on the tab \\u201cresources.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.\\u0026nbsp; Manos was sentenced to 327 months\\u2019 imprisonment and was ordered to make $3,000 in restitution to a victim in the case.\\u0026nbsp; He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManos is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T.\\u0026nbsp;Hake and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Cedar Rapids Police Department, with assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 25-CR-14.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151169\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:24:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151080\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Coggon Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/coggon-man-sentenced-decades-prison-child-pornography-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"00ab1f33-5279-42bc-b6c0-bfb082af2d98\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789048448\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:19:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789046373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-2-years-federal-prison-identity-theft-and-passport-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"650f85a3-d253-4238-bc6e-06b781dad42d\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461006\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"3ee17930-a689-449b-92f6-39b6710d6b6c\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits, LLC (\\u201cSouthern Glazer\\u2019s\\u201d), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation involved Southern Glazer\\u2019s executives and employees funding and concealing improper payments and benefits to employees of alcohol retailers, including chain grocery stores in California and elsewhere.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn the agreement, Southern Glazer\\u2019s admitted to and acknowledged responsibility for the acts of individuals employed by the company, which included years of improper payments and benefits to various alcohol retailer employees in connection with the promotion, purchase, maintenance, and placement of certain alcohol products distributed by Southern Glazer\\u2019s, and the use of third-party vendors and false invoices generated to conceal the practice. \\u0026nbsp;Several Southern Glazer\\u2019s executives based in California, including several Vice Presidents, were directly involved in the conduct, which included substantial cash payments, prepaid gift cards, flights, golf trips, resort stays, and luxury goods, along with participation in the falsification of documents.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to Southern Glazer\\u2019s monetary payment of $12.5 million to the United States, among other things, the company agreed to implement robust steps to enhance compliance with federal and state laws prohibiting bribery and other improper payments and also agreed to continue to cooperate with the government in connection with any criminal prosecutions related to the matter, including against current or former employees of the company.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOne of government\\u2019s top jobs is to ensure a level playing field for American business. Southern Glazer\\u2019s employees tried to distort the wine and spirits market in California through bribes and other improper conduct and in the end it was the consumer that lost out,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian. \\u201cOur office takes this kind of conduct seriously and we are committed to making sure everyone plays by the same rules, which will mean lower prices and more choices for the California consumer. By refusing to compete honestly, the company didn\\u2019t just harm its competitors and consumers \\u2014 it struck at the heart of the American tradition of fair and open competition.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s announcement of this agreement is a testament to IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to holding accountable companies like Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits who engaged in dishonest business practices that circumvented trade practice regulations and internal controls,\\u201d said Kareem Carter, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. \\u201cThis investigation is an excellent example of the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to address complex illicit financial activity by holding those responsible to account for their actions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTTB takes trade practice enforcement seriously to ensure that all industry members operate under the same rules and that law abiding businesses do not lose competitive ground because of the illegal actions of a few,\\u201d said Anthony P. Gledhill, Assistant Administrator, Field Operations, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). \\u0026nbsp;\\u201cThis case serves as an important reminder that industry members are accountable not only for their own conduct, but also for the actions taken on their behalf by third party affiliates. Third parties, likewise, are responsible for any illegal activities they carry out on behalf of an industry member.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was handled by the National Security, Cyber \\u0026amp; Special Prosecutions Section of the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of California. \\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Sampson and Sailaja Paidipaty investigated the case with the assistance of Helen Yee and Maryam Beros. \\u0026nbsp;The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 CI and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau with support from the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-ndca\\/media\\/1461006\\/dl?inline\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022media\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u00223ee17930-a689-449b-92f6-39b6710d6b6c\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022media_download_inline\\u0022 title=\\u0022Southern Glazer\\u2019s Agreement\\u0022\\u003ESouthern Glazer\\u2019s NPA\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:19:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789082385\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9562bf08-d474-4f10-a607-87ba645cee03\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:27:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789079279\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits, LLC (\\u201cSouthern Glazer\\u2019s\\u201d), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nationwide Alcohol Distributor Agrees To Pay Over $12 Million To Resolve Federal Investigation Into Bribery And False Invoicing Practices\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndca\\/pr\\/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal\",\"uuid\":\"652edf5c-d969-42ef-b277-db66cf85e13a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert J. Fundermann, age 50, from Anthon, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 10, 2026, to eighteen and a half years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on February 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2023 through April 2025, Fundermann distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Further evidence showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u0026nbsp; A review of Fundermann\\u2019s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation also revealed that Fundermann was previously convicted for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSC.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Fundermann to 222 months\\u2019 imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; Court file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The case file number is 25-4039.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:21:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075268\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:20:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075225\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Anthon, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/anthon-iowa-man-sentenced-over-18-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"8d1ffaae-440d-4f3c-86b7-3112893b125a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. \\u0026nbsp;Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. \\u0026nbsp;Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e13f1e08a208e08bb89bef8e1a1ec03\\u0022\\u003EOn April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e10a3330bdf28a5c5dce72319283b7eab\\u0022\\u003EOn December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e704a9ef458b7501bacb095c8248a575d\\u0022\\u003EOn December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb99672574729f3a26d18ed5be691e796\\u0022\\u003EOn January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e51e131cc41b52f17370dd35d27c5b1b7\\u0022\\u003EOn January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e851604b39eb6ad088ddf0d29143a815a\\u0022\\u003EOn January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. \\u0026nbsp;Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. \\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Hawaii.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:59:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:55:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088126\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/honolulu-man-involved-trans-pacific-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-10-years\",\"uuid\":\"6d3494ef-6812-4725-9a23-a56ee306fd4c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos A. Grijalva, age 60, of Simi Valley, California, was sentenced yesterday to 72 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $46.4 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Grijalva previously pleaded guilty\\u0026nbsp;and admitted that he and his coconspirators, Brian R. Cleland, age 72, and Bruce Jin, age 61, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds, and other public funds, through fraudulent means.\\u0026nbsp; Grijalva, Cleland, and Jin, and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment. The funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived mostly from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (\\u201cUC\\u201d) benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnnamed members of the conspiracy, including some believed to be in China, established thousands of accounts at banks across the United States using the personal identifying information (\\u201cPII\\u201d) of identity theft victims. From there, fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts, including accounts in the names of people residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. These fraudulent UC claims were also generated by fraudsters based in China. As a result of this fraudulent activity, tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent UC payments were made by Pennsylvania and other states.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter UC funds were paid out, they were then transferred from identity theft victims\\u2019 accounts to companies controlled by Grijalva, Cleland, and Jin. Grijalva and Cleland, for instance, used ACH processing\\u2014a type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer\\u2014to obtain over $46 million in fraudulent funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. This money mostly went from the accounts of identity theft victims to companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service, Group Mex USA, CCB Group, and GC Accounting. After that, Grijalva and Cleland transferred over $30 million to Jin\\u2019s companies, knowing that some of the funds were then going to be transferred to parties located in China.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGrijalva was also ordered to pay certain property forfeitures, including approximately $46.4 million in US currency, as well as the contents of several bank accounts and real properties located in Hawaii and California that were purchased using funds traceable to the charged offenses. One of these properties, located in California, was purchased in the name of one of Grijalva\\u2019s family members.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJin was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 144 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit over $59 million in US currency, along with other properties.\\u0026nbsp; Cleland was sentenced on May 14, 2026, to 120 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit approximately $46.4 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe are prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:29:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789054193\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:28:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789054083\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"California Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining $46 Million In Public Benefits and Laundering Proceeds to China\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/california-man-sentenced-72-months-prison-fraudulently-obtaining-46-million-public\",\"uuid\":\"46f70a1f-5946-4a84-9dd8-bc56cec09552\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Thomas Twilley, 30, sexually abused a child, took sexually explicit photos of the child, and shared the photos with an administrator of a CSAM network online.\\u0026nbsp; Law enforcement estimates the victim was a young child when the material was produced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwilley is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2251(a), and distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(2) \\u0026amp; (b)(1).\\u0026nbsp;If convicted, Twilley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;HSI investigated the case with assistance from Delaware Child Predator Task Force and Delaware State Police.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-480.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:44:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058659\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Delaware\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:55:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055735\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Bridgeville Man Arrested for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\/pr\\/bridgeville-man-arrested-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"c51bd9d7-d407-4eae-a2c0-8664d65e5a3a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ESANTA ANA, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJulie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMolina is charged with four counts of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit\\u2019s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group\\u2019s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit\\u2019s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit\\u2019s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI is investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:21:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053695\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-158\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/former-treasurer-orange-county-high-school-football-booster-club-arrested-allegedly\",\"uuid\":\"67abfdd8-940f-4080-91bf-e75123b5b729\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cOur state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe, and work hard every day to accomplish that mission, as evidenced by this investigation that led to our successful prosecution. Following the law is not optional, and my office stands ready to hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant used a 3D printer to print machine gun diversion devices for AR-15 rifles and then sold them online. The device inserts into an AR-15 rifle and converts it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. An undercover ATF officer purchased 12 conversion devices from the defendant on two occasions before obtaining a search warrant for his home, where they found the 3D printer, printing material, and 13 additional devices.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Patterson and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:19:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:16:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-firearms-offense\",\"uuid\":\"5a663aec-fe2c-40e4-96bb-b6a144a025df\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC \\u2014 a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government\\u2019s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlong with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E11 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, more than \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E8 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/florida-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-nationwide-tax-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E51 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the \\u201cEscrow Trust Refund\\u201d program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds \\u2014 between 25 and 40 percent \\u2014 into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/four-individuals-oahu-sentenced-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock (\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/hawaii-woman-sentenced-27-months-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E27 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:22:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053754\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:03:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1036\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/hawaii-couple-sentenced-prison-roles-nationwide-tax-refund-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"c45961e0-3b81-4064-b3b8-2953d46777eb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE.\\u202fThe defendant got in the victim\\u2019s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back \\u2013 including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same\\u0026nbsp;gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent\\u2019s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF1 006346\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:14:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:12:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-dc-man-guilty-2024-stabbing-death\",\"uuid\":\"c0817b47-17c4-4b61-b72e-f8caa76b4456\"}]}", "content_length": 97501, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json" }

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01RJmKHkJ3ScceEn4o3hJfsi, 3 events)

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    "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":5},\"executionTime\":2.5378479957580566},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 An Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E37, living in San Antonio, Texas,\\u0026nbsp;to 30 months\\u2019 imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Chagamreddy was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cElder fraud schemes are despicable, calculated attacks that prey on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community. In this case, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa used fear to deceive and extort a Vietnam veteran who served our country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. \\u201cBecause the victim came forward, and thanks to law enforcement\\u2019s coordinated, swift response and the efforts of AUSAs Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster, Chagamreddy was brought to justice. Our office remains committed to protecting older Americans from predatory fraud and ensuring foreign scammers who take advantage of their country\\u2019s immigration system are held fully accountable for their crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2025, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with \\u201cMicrosoft,\\u201d the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. Someone then contacted the victim and identified themselves as a federal officer, providing a false badge number.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being \\u201cinvestigated,\\u201d and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.\\u0026nbsp;The elderly victim was transferred to the \\u201cTreasury Department\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;and told he needed to transfer his money into gold and that an \\u201cofficer\\u201d would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed over the package.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA few days later, the fake federal officer contacted the victim again and demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. With the victim\\u0027s cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup. When Chagamreddy arrived at the victim\\u2019s home at the scheduled time and date, he was arrested. Evidence presented to the jury showed that he had $500 in cash, a cell phone, and 23 ounces of gold in\\u0026nbsp;the vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn agent testified about the messaging found on Chagamreddy\\u2019s phone. The exhibits shown to the jury clearly show he worked with another individual to defraud numerous victims within 48 hours. The agent testified that Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he picked up gold from an 87-year-old woman. Trial evidence showed that after delivering the gold to a different co-conspirator, Chagamreddy sent a photo of a dollar bill with \\u201c29 oz rec 3000 paid\\u201d written on it.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe messages indicate that the following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin, Texas, to Andale, Kansas, starting at 1:21 am. Throughout the drive, Chagamreddy would provide status updates, including screenshots of his location and fuel levels, to the co-conspirator. Upon arrival, Chagamreddy booked a hotel room to rest for a few hours and then drove to the destination he had been directed to. The co-conspirator described the 75-year-old woman from whom Chagamreddy would be picking up gold. Chagamreddy then sent the co-conspirator a photo of a sealed box with a message that read, \\u201c23 Oz.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter completing that trip, the agent testified that the messaging showed that Chagamreddy then drove to Delaware County, Oklahoma. The co-conspirator described the 79-year-old that he would be getting gold from and provided a photo of the victim, who was visibly wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt. The agent explained that the victim lived alone on a rural road and that Chagamreddy was actively providing photos, showing that he was lost. After finding the location, Chagamreddy provided one photo confirming that he arrived and was detained shortly after by Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s deputies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2025, the Department of Justice\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/media\\/1416301\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Ereported\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;to Congress that it took more than 280 enforcement actions against more than 600 defendants, many of whom were in the United States illegally or were extradited to be prosecuted. Collectively, the defendants attempted to steal, or stole, over $2.3 billion from more than one million Americans. The Department pursued more than 40 types of elder fraud. Investment fraud ranked number one, with more than $1.8 billion in losses, followed by fraudulent tech support at $982 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Elder Justice Initiative\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/about-elder-abuse\\u0022\\u003Ewebsite\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;provides several scenarios and red flags to help educate yourself and loved ones about the types of abuse, including financial exploitation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDelaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Attorney General\\u2019s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETo find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)\\u0026nbsp;10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday \\u2013 Friday. Elder Justice Neighborhood Resources for Oklahoma are available\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/support\\/resources-neighborhood?field_state=OK\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:41:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072908\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:34:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072468\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Indian Citizen in the United States on Student Visa Sentenced for Defrauding a Vietnam Veteran\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\",\"name\":\"Elder Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/indian-citizen-united-states-student-visa-sentenced-defrauding-vietnam-veteran\",\"uuid\":\"ba0d8869-9d09-4e0d-b49a-7e9cb1eb7e95\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:15:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067733\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/atoka-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E appointment for four minors in Madison County.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor\\u2019s deceased father.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor\\u2019s account without special order from the court.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that during his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Eappointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors\\u2019 bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors\\u2019 accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EElliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors\\u2019 accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cConduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056050\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/former-bethalto-attorney-accused-stealing-over-400000-minor-clients\",\"uuid\":\"5318c323-fc31-43a3-a20c-982b0fcaded7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate\\u2019s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate\\u2019s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlthough Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A.\\u0026nbsp;Bashant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Danks\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Age: 69\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Irvine, CA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1512(b)(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EObstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1503\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPerjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1623(a)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCY\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:50:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:48:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789076917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Danks\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-director-nasdaq-company-convicted-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"6b563bf0-0bc4-4013-acf6-71439e238bc8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn illegal alien who returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced yesterday to three months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMario Noel Rodriguez Castillo, age 51, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Iowa City, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 30, 2026, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the guilty plea, Rodriguez Castillo admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.\\u0026nbsp; Rodriguez Castillo was previously deported in 1996, 2002, and 2005.\\u0026nbsp; On May 21, 2026, immigration officials learned Rodriguez Castillo had illegally returned to the United States and found him at the Johnson County Jail following his arrest on state charges.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo was previously convicted of drug trafficking charges in Utah in 1996 and 1997.\\u0026nbsp; In 1998 he was convicted of reentry of a deported alien in federal court in Utah.\\u0026nbsp; In 2003, he was convicted of deported alien found in the United States in federal court in California.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.\\u0026nbsp; Rodriguez Castillo was sentenced to 94 days\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 26-cr-44.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:36:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058179\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:32:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789057941\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Reentering the United States After Being Deported Three Times\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-prison-reentering-united-states-after-being-deported-three\",\"uuid\":\"6a0d22f7-ff31-4c72-a806-7e304a6fca53\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. \\u0026nbsp;After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. \\u0026nbsp;The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams\\u2019 Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams\\u2019s Ford Raptor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee\\u2019s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency\\u2019s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr163\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:27:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075668\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:24:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/district-man-sentenced-possession-firearm-after-ditching-cocaine-trafficking-evidence\",\"uuid\":\"3961ffa0-9d1c-4496-9b1d-eb21a1ea345a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man who received and possessed child pornography was sentenced today to more than 27 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMatthew Jason Manos, age 42, from Coggon, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 11, 2026, jury verdict finding him guilty of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, including a depiction of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe evidence at trial and sentencing showed that in February 2023, law enforcement officers searched Manos\\u2019s residence in Coggon and took his cell phone.\\u0026nbsp; Between December 2022 and February 2023, Manos had downloaded images of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; He viewed the images on his cell phone multiple times.\\u0026nbsp; Manos then fled Iowa, abandoning his pets in his home where the pets were later rescued by law enforcement.\\u0026nbsp; Manos ultimately moved to Illinois, where he was arrested in August 2023.\\u0026nbsp; During his arrest, law enforcement officers took his new cell phone.\\u0026nbsp; Evidence showed that Manos had used that new phone to access child pornography as well.\\u0026nbsp; Manos was previously convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, lascivious acts with a child, lascivious conduct with a child, dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors, and indecent exposure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E and click on the tab \\u201cresources.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.\\u0026nbsp; Manos was sentenced to 327 months\\u2019 imprisonment and was ordered to make $3,000 in restitution to a victim in the case.\\u0026nbsp; He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManos is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T.\\u0026nbsp;Hake and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Cedar Rapids Police Department, with assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 25-CR-14.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151169\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:24:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151080\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Coggon Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for  Child Pornography Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/coggon-man-sentenced-decades-prison-child-pornography-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"00ab1f33-5279-42bc-b6c0-bfb082af2d98\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789048448\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:19:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789046373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-2-years-federal-prison-identity-theft-and-passport-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"650f85a3-d253-4238-bc6e-06b781dad42d\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461006\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"3ee17930-a689-449b-92f6-39b6710d6b6c\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits, LLC (\\u201cSouthern Glazer\\u2019s\\u201d), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation involved Southern Glazer\\u2019s executives and employees funding and concealing improper payments and benefits to employees of alcohol retailers, including chain grocery stores in California and elsewhere.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn the agreement, Southern Glazer\\u2019s admitted to and acknowledged responsibility for the acts of individuals employed by the company, which included years of improper payments and benefits to various alcohol retailer employees in connection with the promotion, purchase, maintenance, and placement of certain alcohol products distributed by Southern Glazer\\u2019s, and the use of third-party vendors and false invoices generated to conceal the practice. \\u0026nbsp;Several Southern Glazer\\u2019s executives based in California, including several Vice Presidents, were directly involved in the conduct, which included substantial cash payments, prepaid gift cards, flights, golf trips, resort stays, and luxury goods, along with participation in the falsification of documents.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to Southern Glazer\\u2019s monetary payment of $12.5 million to the United States, among other things, the company agreed to implement robust steps to enhance compliance with federal and state laws prohibiting bribery and other improper payments and also agreed to continue to cooperate with the government in connection with any criminal prosecutions related to the matter, including against current or former employees of the company.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOne of government\\u2019s top jobs is to ensure a level playing field for American business. Southern Glazer\\u2019s employees tried to distort the wine and spirits market in California through bribes and other improper conduct and in the end it was the consumer that lost out,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian. \\u201cOur office takes this kind of conduct seriously and we are committed to making sure everyone plays by the same rules, which will mean lower prices and more choices for the California consumer. By refusing to compete honestly, the company didn\\u2019t just harm its competitors and consumers \\u2014 it struck at the heart of the American tradition of fair and open competition.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s announcement of this agreement is a testament to IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to holding accountable companies like Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits who engaged in dishonest business practices that circumvented trade practice regulations and internal controls,\\u201d said Kareem Carter, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. \\u201cThis investigation is an excellent example of the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to address complex illicit financial activity by holding those responsible to account for their actions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTTB takes trade practice enforcement seriously to ensure that all industry members operate under the same rules and that law abiding businesses do not lose competitive ground because of the illegal actions of a few,\\u201d said Anthony P. Gledhill, Assistant Administrator, Field Operations, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). \\u0026nbsp;\\u201cThis case serves as an important reminder that industry members are accountable not only for their own conduct, but also for the actions taken on their behalf by third party affiliates. Third parties, likewise, are responsible for any illegal activities they carry out on behalf of an industry member.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was handled by the National Security, Cyber \\u0026amp; Special Prosecutions Section of the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of California. \\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Sampson and Sailaja Paidipaty investigated the case with the assistance of Helen Yee and Maryam Beros. \\u0026nbsp;The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 CI and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau with support from the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-ndca\\/media\\/1461006\\/dl?inline\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022media\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u00223ee17930-a689-449b-92f6-39b6710d6b6c\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022media_download_inline\\u0022 title=\\u0022Southern Glazer\\u2019s Agreement\\u0022\\u003ESouthern Glazer\\u2019s NPA\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:19:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789082385\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9562bf08-d474-4f10-a607-87ba645cee03\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:27:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789079279\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits, LLC (\\u201cSouthern Glazer\\u2019s\\u201d), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nationwide Alcohol Distributor Agrees To Pay Over $12 Million To Resolve Federal Investigation Into Bribery And False Invoicing Practices\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndca\\/pr\\/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal\",\"uuid\":\"652edf5c-d969-42ef-b277-db66cf85e13a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert J. Fundermann, age 50, from Anthon, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 10, 2026, to eighteen and a half years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on February 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2023 through April 2025, Fundermann distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Further evidence showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u0026nbsp; A review of Fundermann\\u2019s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation also revealed that Fundermann was previously convicted for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSC.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Fundermann to 222 months\\u2019 imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; Court file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The case file number is 25-4039.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:21:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075268\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:20:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075225\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Anthon, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in  Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/anthon-iowa-man-sentenced-over-18-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"8d1ffaae-440d-4f3c-86b7-3112893b125a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. \\u0026nbsp;Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. \\u0026nbsp;Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e13f1e08a208e08bb89bef8e1a1ec03\\u0022\\u003EOn April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e10a3330bdf28a5c5dce72319283b7eab\\u0022\\u003EOn December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e704a9ef458b7501bacb095c8248a575d\\u0022\\u003EOn December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb99672574729f3a26d18ed5be691e796\\u0022\\u003EOn January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e51e131cc41b52f17370dd35d27c5b1b7\\u0022\\u003EOn January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e851604b39eb6ad088ddf0d29143a815a\\u0022\\u003EOn January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. \\u0026nbsp;Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. \\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Hawaii.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:59:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:55:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088126\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/honolulu-man-involved-trans-pacific-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-10-years\",\"uuid\":\"6d3494ef-6812-4725-9a23-a56ee306fd4c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos A. Grijalva, age 60, of Simi Valley, California, was sentenced yesterday to 72 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $46.4 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Grijalva previously pleaded guilty\\u0026nbsp;and admitted that he and his coconspirators, Brian R. Cleland, age 72, and Bruce Jin, age 61, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds, and other public funds, through fraudulent means.\\u0026nbsp; Grijalva, Cleland, and Jin, and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment. The funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived mostly from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (\\u201cUC\\u201d) benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnnamed members of the conspiracy, including some believed to be in China, established thousands of accounts at banks across the United States using the personal identifying information (\\u201cPII\\u201d) of identity theft victims. From there, fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts, including accounts in the names of people residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. These fraudulent UC claims were also generated by fraudsters based in China. As a result of this fraudulent activity, tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent UC payments were made by Pennsylvania and other states.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter UC funds were paid out, they were then transferred from identity theft victims\\u2019 accounts to companies controlled by Grijalva, Cleland, and Jin. Grijalva and Cleland, for instance, used ACH processing\\u2014a type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer\\u2014to obtain over $46 million in fraudulent funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. This money mostly went from the accounts of identity theft victims to companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service, Group Mex USA, CCB Group, and GC Accounting. After that, Grijalva and Cleland transferred over $30 million to Jin\\u2019s companies, knowing that some of the funds were then going to be transferred to parties located in China.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGrijalva was also ordered to pay certain property forfeitures, including approximately $46.4 million in US currency, as well as the contents of several bank accounts and real properties located in Hawaii and California that were purchased using funds traceable to the charged offenses. One of these properties, located in California, was purchased in the name of one of Grijalva\\u2019s family members.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJin was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 144 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit over $59 million in US currency, along with other properties.\\u0026nbsp; Cleland was sentenced on May 14, 2026, to 120 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit approximately $46.4 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe are prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:29:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789054193\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:28:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789054083\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"California Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining $46 Million In Public Benefits and Laundering Proceeds to China\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/california-man-sentenced-72-months-prison-fraudulently-obtaining-46-million-public\",\"uuid\":\"46f70a1f-5946-4a84-9dd8-bc56cec09552\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Thomas Twilley, 30, sexually abused a child, took sexually explicit photos of the child, and shared the photos with an administrator of a CSAM network online.\\u0026nbsp; Law enforcement estimates the victim was a young child when the material was produced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwilley is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2251(a), and distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(2) \\u0026amp; (b)(1).\\u0026nbsp;If convicted, Twilley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;HSI investigated the case with assistance from Delaware Child Predator Task Force and Delaware State Police.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-480.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:44:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058659\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Delaware\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:55:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055735\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Bridgeville Man Arrested for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\/pr\\/bridgeville-man-arrested-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"c51bd9d7-d407-4eae-a2c0-8664d65e5a3a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ESANTA ANA, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJulie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMolina is charged with four counts of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit\\u2019s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group\\u2019s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit\\u2019s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit\\u2019s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI is investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:21:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053695\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-158\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/former-treasurer-orange-county-high-school-football-booster-club-arrested-allegedly\",\"uuid\":\"67abfdd8-940f-4080-91bf-e75123b5b729\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cOur state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe, and work hard every day to accomplish that mission, as evidenced by this investigation that led to our successful prosecution. Following the law is not optional, and my office stands ready to hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant used a 3D printer to print machine gun diversion devices for AR-15 rifles and then sold them online. The device inserts into an AR-15 rifle and converts it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. An undercover ATF officer purchased 12 conversion devices from the defendant on two occasions before obtaining a search warrant for his home, where they found the 3D printer, printing material, and 13 additional devices.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Patterson and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:19:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:16:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-firearms-offense\",\"uuid\":\"5a663aec-fe2c-40e4-96bb-b6a144a025df\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC \\u2014 a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government\\u2019s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlong with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E11 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, more than \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E8 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/florida-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-nationwide-tax-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E51 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the \\u201cEscrow Trust Refund\\u201d program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds \\u2014 between 25 and 40 percent \\u2014 into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/four-individuals-oahu-sentenced-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock (\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/hawaii-woman-sentenced-27-months-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E27 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:22:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053754\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:03:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1036\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/hawaii-couple-sentenced-prison-roles-nationwide-tax-refund-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"c45961e0-3b81-4064-b3b8-2953d46777eb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE.\\u202fThe defendant got in the victim\\u2019s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back \\u2013 including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same\\u0026nbsp;gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent\\u2019s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF1 006346\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:14:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:12:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death  \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-dc-man-guilty-2024-stabbing-death\",\"uuid\":\"c0817b47-17c4-4b61-b72e-f8caa76b4456\"}]}",
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Tool Result E0055

{ "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":6},\"executionTime\":2.5429489612579346},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics.\\u0026nbsp;These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts\\u0026nbsp;was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based\\u0026nbsp;cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled through Holguin Mendez\\u2019s account\\u0026nbsp;from March 2023 to May 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Homeland Security Task Force continues to disrupt drug money laundering organizations, as is alleged in the indictment of a $135 million scheme orchestrated by Holguin Mendez,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. \\u201cLaw enforcement will work together across domestic and international borders to trace illegal drug profits to investigate and prosecute narcotics dealers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant, as alleged in the indictment, backchanneled approximately $135 million of illegal drug proceeds tied to Upstate South Carolina,\\u201d said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. \\u201cThe FBI, along with our HSTF partners, is on a continuous mission to identify, investigate, and prosecute every criminal involved in large-scale drug operations from the dealers to the money facilitators. We are committed to making our communities safe and removing the threat of cartels.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHolguin Mendez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and is currently detained pending trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAll charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:06:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063603\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\",\"uuid\":\"56e7b3ab-5021-464e-a77c-d6c6bd3d03d1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC \\u2014 a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government\\u2019s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlong with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E11 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, more than \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E8 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/florida-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-nationwide-tax-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E51 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the \\u201cEscrow Trust Refund\\u201d program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds \\u2014 between 25 and 40 percent \\u2014 into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/four-individuals-oahu-sentenced-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock (\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/hawaii-woman-sentenced-27-months-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E27 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:22:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053754\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:03:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1036\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/hawaii-couple-sentenced-prison-roles-nationwide-tax-refund-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"c45961e0-3b81-4064-b3b8-2953d46777eb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 A man required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today for knowingly failing to register that he was living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced James Robert Hurley, aka Daniel Gomes, 25, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hurley was ordered to serve 21 months\\u0027 imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Hurley was convicted in 2021 for soliciting sexually explicit images from a 12-year-old. As a result, Hurley was sentenced in tribal court to a three-year suspended sentence and ordered to register as a sex offender. Three months after receiving his sex offense conviction, Hurley was charged in state court for obstruction and public intoxication, and the tribal court filed a motion to revoke his suspended sentence. Hurley failed to appear in both cases, and warrants were issued for his arrest. He was eventually detained, and the tribal court revoked his suspended sentence and ordered Hurley to serve\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003Ethree years\\u0027 imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter being released from prison, Hurley knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. Court documents show that after being released from prison, Hurley married his spouse, claiming his name as Hurley. However, Hurley was born \\u201cDaniel Gomes\\u201d and has never legally changed his name. Hurley\\u2019s criminal history under the name \\u201cGomes\\u201d includes convictions for third-degree burglary, carrying a weapon unlawfully, unauthorized use of a vehicle, second-degree burglary, obstructing an officer, and public intoxication in Oklahoma and joyriding in Tennessee. His spouse was granted an annulment because Hurley made false representations and deceived her.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHurley is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led\\u0026nbsp;by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to\\u0026nbsp;identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSC\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EJustice.gov\\/PSC\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067004\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"},{\"uuid\":\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\",\"name\":\"U.S. Marshals Service\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:57:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066630\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today for knowingly failing to register that he was living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Sex Offender Living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties Sentenced for Failing to Register\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/sex-offender-living-mayes-and-tulsa-counties-sentenced-failing-register\",\"uuid\":\"402f6179-e5a2-47a0-bf90-968144605855\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Haneef Palmer, aka \\u201cLew,\\u201d 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $1,080,786.44 in restitution by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his central role in a large-scale cargo theft conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant was charged by superseding indictment in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to one count each of conspiracy, robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), possession of items from interstate shipment theft, theft of government money, and possession of stolen government money, and five counts of theft from an interstate shipment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, between January 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, Palmer conspired with co-defendants to steal goods moving as parts of interstate shipments located on tractor trailers around Philadelphia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhile a trailer was unattended overnight, or while the driver was asleep, the members of the conspiracy participating in the theft would use bolt cutters and other tools to break into the trailer and steal the goods inside. The members of the conspiracy would then offer the goods for sale to local contacts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmong other acts, Palmer admitted to participating in the robbery of a tractor trailer carrying commercial refrigerators on April 1, 2023, during which he and others attacked and injured the driver, and to participating in the theft of over $230,000 worth of U.S. dimes on April 13, 2023. The members of the conspiracy committed numerous other thefts, stealing goods with a total estimated value of more than $1.5 million from more than 10 victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Bowerman and Christopher Diviny.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:09:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789164558\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:06:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789164416\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Key Role in Large-Scale Cargo Thefts\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edpa\\/pr\\/philadelphia-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-key-role-large-scale-cargo-thefts\",\"uuid\":\"6cd73863-e557-47ea-90c1-0d79eb94d783\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bobbie Jerome Newton, age 32, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for failure to register as a sex offender.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Newton was convicted in 2018 of statutory sexual assault and related offenses. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2024, Newton cut off the GPS ankle monitor that Pennsylvania state probation required him to wear and traveled across state lines to Baltimore, Maryland, where he took up residence. He did not update his registration to reflect that move, as required by law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;case\\u0026nbsp;was\\u0026nbsp;investigated\\u0026nbsp;by\\u0026nbsp;the\\u0026nbsp;United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp;Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Michael Scalera\\u0026nbsp;prosecuted\\u0026nbsp;the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056078\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender \",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/waynesboro-man-sentenced-30-months-prison-failure-register-sex-offender\",\"uuid\":\"ed2ddc5f-b550-47f7-8003-22f312a6e1ff\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESTATESBORO, Georgia:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe\\u0026nbsp;sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDeivon Waller\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cHitman,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cVP\\u201d, 32, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and a $2,000 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWaller was a co-conspirator in a network of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, and various other Georgia state prisons beginning as early as 2019 and continuing through July 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmongst more than 20 defendants, six were not in Department of Corrections custody at any time during the conspiracies, and each of them is alleged to have been in contact with incarcerated co-defendants in furtherance of the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditional defendants associated with the operation have also been sentenced, they include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e59d7391fdc84bb90de9edf693a34b5ca\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKelvin Rogers\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cGangsta,\\u201d 40, an inmate at the Smith State Prison, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $500 fine followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e11e7cf5f0af209de69bdbe2d1afb2b65\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETristahn Ash\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMohawk,\\u201d 29, an inmate in the Georgia Department of Corrections, was sentenced to 92 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0ec44825689589b4b9e09f7403884c31\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAsa James Ward\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cFoolay,\\u201d 30, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMore than a dozen additional co-conspirators await sentencing while others have upcoming trials in federal court for various charges including, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is but one step of many to bring these defendants to justice in a widespread conspiracy,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cWe commend the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose collaborative work unraveled this criminal scheme.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPrisons should not be targets for sophisticated drug trafficking operations,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cThis investigation exposed an effort to use technology to circumvent security and deliver dangerous drugs and contraband behind prison walls. DEA\\u2019s commitment to pursuing those responsible does not stop at the prison gate.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations Division, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lowndes County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Telfair County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Tattnall County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cobb County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the McRae-Helena Police Department, and the Eufaula, Ala., Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIdentifying and managing those participating in criminal activity using contraband cell phones introduced into our facilities via drone or otherwise, is paramount in our commitment to public safety,\\u201d said GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cWe appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served\\u0026nbsp;on these individuals for their role in jeopardizing the safe operations of our facilities, and most importantly, the safety of the public.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Dean and Criminal AUSA Chief Patricia G. Rhodes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056573\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052806\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"83-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty in Georgia prison drug trafficking conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-georgia-prison-drug-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"317a00d4-4b30-4a30-8a39-bca1c88fc824\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharge(s)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentence\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJose Buval, 35, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) \\u0026amp; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E19 years, 2 months\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ECesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine \\u0026amp; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EBrandon Bowman, 32, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EMaking a false statement during the purchase of a firearm \\u0026amp; Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJames McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E4 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ERobert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E5 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E13 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir\\u2019s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOver the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Department, Hamilton\\/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,\\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \\u201cHSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\u201cOur special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We\\u2019re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,\\u201d said Greg O\\u2019Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. \\u201cWithout these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn\\u2019t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese prosecutions\\u0026nbsp;are\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the\\u0026nbsp;Southern District of Indiana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056571\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:03:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056236\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/seven-including-el-salvadoran-national-sentenced-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"3e2d31d9-f117-4adc-8e20-fe728d6fa189\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETestimony at trial showed that Johnson \\u2014 who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses \\u2014 had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran \\u201cKrazyside Kennels\\u201d referred to his new operation as \\u201cMal Kant Kennels.\\u201d The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460961\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture1.png?itok=i4326WoJ\\u0022 width=\\u0022308\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460966\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture2.png?itok=Iu_huexy\\u0022 width=\\u0022307\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cAs Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.\\u0026nbsp;To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can\\u2019t hide from the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cWe are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. \\u201cI applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as \\u201cchampions\\u201d and \\u201cgrand champions,\\u201d meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and \\u201cstud fees\\u201d for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:11:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074702\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:39:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460961\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"751cf611-b05a-49ab-ae61-41447fabe1f8\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460966\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c6985aba-8b1e-4fa7-a885-c1527d42226c\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog2\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog2\"}],\"number\":\"26-1042\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"81e06cc2-8cd6-4ed0-b996-a226abd196b9\",\"name\":\"Animal Welfare\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-sentenced-5-years-prison-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and\",\"uuid\":\"50446941-bded-4e90-a5c0-fea110b9a7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECONCORD \\u2013 Matthew Schnell, 45, of Bellingham, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 71 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESchnell pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant helped run a major operation trafficking dangerous drugs out of central New Hampshire and will now be held accountable,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Creegan. \\u201cDue to strong partnership with our state and local law enforcement counterparts, we were able to take down this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Our office will continue to pursue those who bring harm and destructive addiction to our communities.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMatthew Schnell is now behind bars for facilitating a substantial drug trafficking organization that pushed pounds of methamphetamine into New Hampshire, fueling addiction, violence, and instability in our neighborhoods,\\u201d said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Boston Division. \\u201cLet this hefty sentence be a warning to others who think they can profit from flooding our streets with dangerous drugs and escape responsibility. The FBI and our partners will find you and ensure you are brought to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2022, the FBI\\u2019s New Hampshire Major Offender Task Force, and the New Hampshire State Police (\\u201cNHSP\\u201d) began investigating a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in New Hampshire. The investigation revealed that Schnell obtained methamphetamine from suppliers and then would provide methamphetamine to Thomas Conway for further distribution in New Hampshire. Phone calls and text messages intercepted during the investigation confirmed that the defendant worked as Conway\\u2019s primary supplier and business partner. For example, in one conversation, Schnell, Conway, and another co-conspirator discussed the need to need to restructure their drug trafficking organization to ensure a sufficient drug supply. In multiple other intercepted communications, Schnell discussed obtaining multiple pound quantities of methamphetamine for Conway. Law enforcement later seized drugs before they could be distributed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force in partnership with the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. The Concord Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and New Hampton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of New Hampshire\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:55:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055738\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Hampshire\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:53:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055599\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/pr\\/massachusetts-man-sentenced-nearly-six-years-trafficking-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"ebdee0b2-e7ad-4c2f-9884-fe6aa17a5e9c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit\\u0026nbsp;the proceeds traceable to the offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies\\u2019 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees\\u2019 paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee\\u2019s paychecks to the company\\u2019s health insurance plan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is\\u0026nbsp;presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Labor \\u2013 Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation \\u2013 Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:06:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:50:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059024\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees\\u2019 Benefit Plans\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\",\"uuid\":\"db552d61-470f-4192-905a-daa9f2432448\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE.\\u202fThe defendant got in the victim\\u2019s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back \\u2013 including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same\\u0026nbsp;gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent\\u2019s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF1 006346\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:14:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:12:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-dc-man-guilty-2024-stabbing-death\",\"uuid\":\"c0817b47-17c4-4b61-b72e-f8caa76b4456\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 A man who possessed child sexual abuse material and uploaded it to Snapchat was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua J. Klenke, 21, of St. Charles, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Snapchat. After an investigation sparked by CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, investigators found videos and pictures containing CSAM on Klenke\\u2019s phone, as well as a picture of him kissing a 4-year-old girl on the lips. Klenke, who worked for a cleaning company, encountered the girl in a client\\u2019s home.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe St. Charles County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:20:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071623\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:00:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070445\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua J. Klenke admitted uploading child sexual abuse material to Snapchat and kissing a 4-year-old.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"St. Charles, Missouri Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/st-charles-missouri-man-sentenced-14-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"fcba41e0-f564-490d-833e-a45a4379daaa\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cOur Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, \\u201cdead serious,\\u201d and demanded \\u201cloose bills\\u201d in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10.\\u0026nbsp; The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee.\\u0026nbsp; In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later.\\u0026nbsp; After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s General Crimes Section.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPIERRE LEE\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge: 43\\u003Cbr\\u003EZebulon, NC\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067479\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067028\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-found-guilty-using-firearm-during-brooklyn-attempted-bank-robbery\",\"uuid\":\"16b23235-1254-4110-b793-7eea839c1c66\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u0026nbsp; In April 2026, a federal jury\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-convicted-jury-child-sexual-exploitation-charges\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Lopez-Guevara of 14 counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) \\u2013 Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and State\\u2019s Attorney Tara H. Jackson, Prince George\\u2019s County State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office (PGCSAO).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2024, Lopez-Guevara sexually abused three minors, ranging from 2 to 11 years old at the time of the abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Lopez-Guevara, who lived in Laurel and Baltimore, produced images and videos of himself and the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, many of which were found on the dark web.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, HSI initiated an investigation after its investigators in Portland, Maine, observed previously unseen child sexual abuse videos on the internet.\\u0026nbsp; After identifying Minor Victim 1 in the videos, and determining that he lived in Maryland, investigators quickly referred the matter to HSI Maryland.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI then executed several search warrants in Maryland and discovered Lopez-Guevara in possession of two phones.\\u0026nbsp;Investigators forensically examined the phones and discovered additional images of Lopez-Guevara sexually abusing Minor Victim 1, along with depictions of Lopez-Guevara exploiting Minor Victim 2 and Minor Victim 3. Additionally, investigators found hundreds of CSAM images and videos on the phone associated with an encrypted messaging application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKnow2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\/key-definitions#CSEA\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Echild sexual exploitation and abuse\\u003C\\/a\\u003E; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.\\u0026nbsp; Learn more about Know2Protect at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, BCPD, PGCSAO, for their work in the investigation, along with the Center for Hope, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Victoria Liu who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources\\u0026nbsp;available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:34:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065277\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/honduran-illegal-alien-sentenced-more-six-decades-federal-prison-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"68c2d4bf-fcda-41be-9d27-5f437c0afd0c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ESANTA ANA, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJulie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMolina is charged with four counts of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit\\u2019s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group\\u2019s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit\\u2019s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit\\u2019s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI is investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:21:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053695\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-158\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/former-treasurer-orange-county-high-school-football-booster-club-arrested-allegedly\",\"uuid\":\"67abfdd8-940f-4080-91bf-e75123b5b729\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E appointment for four minors in Madison County.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor\\u2019s deceased father.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor\\u2019s account without special order from the court.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that during his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Eappointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors\\u2019 bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors\\u2019 accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EElliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors\\u2019 accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cConduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056050\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/former-bethalto-attorney-accused-stealing-over-400000-minor-clients\",\"uuid\":\"5318c323-fc31-43a3-a20c-982b0fcaded7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAUGUSTA, Georgia:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E A Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECheryl Galloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 67, of Yulee, Florida, was sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $454,624.20 and criminal forfeiture of $96,119 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states.\\u0026nbsp; The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGalloway\\u2019s co-defendant, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERicki Johnson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $104,632 after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence demonstrates this offices commitment to safeguarding taxpayer-funded benefits against illegal access by those that would seek to enrich themselves,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cThis case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will work together to identify these criminals and hold them accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Cheryl Galloway and her co-conspirators fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits they were not entitled to, draining hard-earned tax dollars and betraying the trust of hardworking Americans. Stealing benefits is a crime and every fraudster will face the consequences they deserve,\\u201d said Anthony P. D\\u2019Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. \\u0022This ruling stands as a powerful reminder that my office, in partnership with the Department of Justice, is committed to identifying and prosecuting every individual who defrauds our benefits programs. Accountability and justice will always prevail.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.oig.dol.gov\\/hotline.htm\\u0022\\u003Ewww.oig.dol.gov\\/hotline.htm\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, J. Bishop Ravenel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:08:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070906\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:28:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789068522\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"89-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Florida woman sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/florida-woman-sentenced-federal-prison-conspiracy-commit-mail-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"bfaba790-ddf7-4dae-86a1-fa00bb0877fc\"}]}", "content_length": 98831, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json" }

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_012Lm1aNDJqjKDJfd15WoPwk, 3 events)

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Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.291

Inner payload

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    "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":6},\"executionTime\":2.5429489612579346},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics.\\u0026nbsp;These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts\\u0026nbsp;was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based\\u0026nbsp;cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled through Holguin Mendez\\u2019s account\\u0026nbsp;from March 2023 to May 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Homeland Security Task Force continues to disrupt drug money laundering organizations, as is alleged in the indictment of a $135 million scheme orchestrated by Holguin Mendez,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. \\u201cLaw enforcement will work together across domestic and international borders to trace illegal drug profits to investigate and prosecute narcotics dealers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant, as alleged in the indictment, backchanneled approximately $135 million of illegal drug proceeds tied to Upstate South Carolina,\\u201d said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. \\u201cThe FBI, along with our HSTF partners, is on a continuous mission to identify, investigate, and prosecute every criminal involved in large-scale drug operations from the dealers to the money facilitators. We are committed to making our communities safe and removing the threat of cartels.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHolguin Mendez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and is currently detained pending trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAll charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:06:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063603\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\",\"uuid\":\"56e7b3ab-5021-464e-a77c-d6c6bd3d03d1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC \\u2014 a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government\\u2019s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlong with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E11 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, more than \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E8 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/florida-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-nationwide-tax-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E51 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the \\u201cEscrow Trust Refund\\u201d program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds \\u2014 between 25 and 40 percent \\u2014 into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/four-individuals-oahu-sentenced-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock (\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/hawaii-woman-sentenced-27-months-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E27 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:22:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053754\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:03:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1036\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/hawaii-couple-sentenced-prison-roles-nationwide-tax-refund-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"c45961e0-3b81-4064-b3b8-2953d46777eb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 A man required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today for knowingly failing to register that he was living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced James Robert Hurley, aka Daniel Gomes, 25, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hurley was ordered to serve 21 months\\u0027 imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Hurley was convicted in 2021 for soliciting sexually explicit images from a 12-year-old. As a result, Hurley was sentenced in tribal court to a three-year suspended sentence and ordered to register as a sex offender. Three months after receiving his sex offense conviction, Hurley was charged in state court for obstruction and public intoxication, and the tribal court filed a motion to revoke his suspended sentence. Hurley failed to appear in both cases, and warrants were issued for his arrest. He was eventually detained, and the tribal court revoked his suspended sentence and ordered Hurley to serve\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003Ethree years\\u0027 imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter being released from prison, Hurley knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. Court documents show that after being released from prison, Hurley married his spouse, claiming his name as Hurley. However, Hurley was born \\u201cDaniel Gomes\\u201d and has never legally changed his name. Hurley\\u2019s criminal history under the name \\u201cGomes\\u201d includes convictions for third-degree burglary, carrying a weapon unlawfully, unauthorized use of a vehicle, second-degree burglary, obstructing an officer, and public intoxication in Oklahoma and joyriding in Tennessee. His spouse was granted an annulment because Hurley made false representations and deceived her.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHurley is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led\\u0026nbsp;by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to\\u0026nbsp;identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSC\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EJustice.gov\\/PSC\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067004\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"},{\"uuid\":\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\",\"name\":\"U.S. Marshals Service\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:57:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066630\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today for knowingly failing to register that he was living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Sex Offender Living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties Sentenced for Failing to Register\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/sex-offender-living-mayes-and-tulsa-counties-sentenced-failing-register\",\"uuid\":\"402f6179-e5a2-47a0-bf90-968144605855\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Haneef Palmer, aka \\u201cLew,\\u201d 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $1,080,786.44 in restitution by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his central role in a large-scale cargo theft conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant was charged by superseding indictment in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to one count each of conspiracy, robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), possession of items from interstate shipment theft, theft of government money, and possession of stolen government money, and five counts of theft from an interstate shipment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, between January 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, Palmer conspired with co-defendants to steal goods moving as parts of interstate shipments located on tractor trailers around Philadelphia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhile a trailer was unattended overnight, or while the driver was asleep, the members of the conspiracy participating in the theft would use bolt cutters and other tools to break into the trailer and steal the goods inside. The members of the conspiracy would then offer the goods for sale to local contacts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmong other acts, Palmer admitted to participating in the robbery of a tractor trailer carrying commercial refrigerators on April 1, 2023, during which he and others attacked and injured the driver, and to participating in the theft of over $230,000 worth of U.S. dimes on April 13, 2023. The members of the conspiracy committed numerous other thefts, stealing goods with a total estimated value of more than $1.5 million from more than 10 victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Bowerman and Christopher Diviny.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:09:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789164558\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:06:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789164416\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Key Role in Large-Scale Cargo Thefts\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edpa\\/pr\\/philadelphia-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-key-role-large-scale-cargo-thefts\",\"uuid\":\"6cd73863-e557-47ea-90c1-0d79eb94d783\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bobbie Jerome Newton, age 32, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for failure to register as a sex offender.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Newton was convicted in 2018 of statutory sexual assault and related offenses. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2024, Newton cut off the GPS ankle monitor that Pennsylvania state probation required him to wear and traveled across state lines to Baltimore, Maryland, where he took up residence. He did not update his registration to reflect that move, as required by law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;case\\u0026nbsp;was\\u0026nbsp;investigated\\u0026nbsp;by\\u0026nbsp;the\\u0026nbsp;United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp;Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Michael Scalera\\u0026nbsp;prosecuted\\u0026nbsp;the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056078\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender \",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/waynesboro-man-sentenced-30-months-prison-failure-register-sex-offender\",\"uuid\":\"ed2ddc5f-b550-47f7-8003-22f312a6e1ff\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESTATESBORO, Georgia:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe\\u0026nbsp;sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDeivon Waller\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cHitman,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cVP\\u201d, 32, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and a $2,000 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWaller was a co-conspirator in a network of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, and various other Georgia state prisons beginning as early as 2019 and continuing through July 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmongst more than 20 defendants, six were not in Department of Corrections custody at any time during the conspiracies, and each of them is alleged to have been in contact with incarcerated co-defendants in furtherance of the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditional defendants associated with the operation have also been sentenced, they include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e59d7391fdc84bb90de9edf693a34b5ca\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKelvin Rogers\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cGangsta,\\u201d 40, an inmate at the Smith State Prison, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $500 fine followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e11e7cf5f0af209de69bdbe2d1afb2b65\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETristahn Ash\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMohawk,\\u201d 29, an inmate in the Georgia Department of Corrections, was sentenced to 92 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0ec44825689589b4b9e09f7403884c31\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAsa James Ward\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cFoolay,\\u201d 30, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMore than a dozen additional co-conspirators await sentencing while others have upcoming trials in federal court for various charges including, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is but one step of many to bring these defendants to justice in a widespread conspiracy,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cWe commend the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose collaborative work unraveled this criminal scheme.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPrisons should not be targets for sophisticated drug trafficking operations,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cThis investigation exposed an effort to use technology to circumvent security and deliver dangerous drugs and contraband behind prison walls. DEA\\u2019s commitment to pursuing those responsible does not stop at the prison gate.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations Division, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lowndes County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Telfair County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Tattnall County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cobb County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the McRae-Helena Police Department, and the Eufaula, Ala., Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIdentifying and managing those participating in criminal activity using contraband cell phones introduced into our facilities via drone or otherwise, is paramount in our commitment to public safety,\\u201d said GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cWe appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served\\u0026nbsp;on these individuals for their role in jeopardizing the safe operations of our facilities, and most importantly, the safety of the public.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Dean and Criminal AUSA Chief Patricia G. Rhodes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056573\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052806\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"83-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty in Georgia prison drug trafficking conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-georgia-prison-drug-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"317a00d4-4b30-4a30-8a39-bca1c88fc824\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharge(s)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentence\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJose Buval, 35, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) \\u0026amp; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E19 years, 2 months\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ECesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine \\u0026amp; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EBrandon Bowman, 32, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EMaking a false statement during the purchase of a firearm \\u0026amp; Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJames McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E4 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ERobert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E5 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E13 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir\\u2019s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOver the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Department, Hamilton\\/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,\\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \\u201cHSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\u201cOur special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We\\u2019re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,\\u201d said Greg O\\u2019Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. \\u201cWithout these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn\\u2019t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese prosecutions\\u0026nbsp;are\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the\\u0026nbsp;Southern District of Indiana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056571\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:03:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056236\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/seven-including-el-salvadoran-national-sentenced-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"3e2d31d9-f117-4adc-8e20-fe728d6fa189\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETestimony at trial showed that Johnson \\u2014 who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses \\u2014 had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran \\u201cKrazyside Kennels\\u201d referred to his new operation as \\u201cMal Kant Kennels.\\u201d The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460961\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture1.png?itok=i4326WoJ\\u0022 width=\\u0022308\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460966\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture2.png?itok=Iu_huexy\\u0022 width=\\u0022307\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cAs Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.\\u0026nbsp;To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can\\u2019t hide from the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cWe are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. \\u201cI applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as \\u201cchampions\\u201d and \\u201cgrand champions,\\u201d meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and \\u201cstud fees\\u201d for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:11:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074702\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:39:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460961\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"751cf611-b05a-49ab-ae61-41447fabe1f8\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460966\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c6985aba-8b1e-4fa7-a885-c1527d42226c\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog2\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog2\"}],\"number\":\"26-1042\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"81e06cc2-8cd6-4ed0-b996-a226abd196b9\",\"name\":\"Animal Welfare\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-sentenced-5-years-prison-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and\",\"uuid\":\"50446941-bded-4e90-a5c0-fea110b9a7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECONCORD \\u2013 Matthew Schnell, 45, of Bellingham, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 71 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESchnell pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant helped run a major operation trafficking dangerous drugs out of central New Hampshire and will now be held accountable,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Creegan. \\u201cDue to strong partnership with our state and local law enforcement counterparts, we were able to take down this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Our office will continue to pursue those who bring harm and destructive addiction to our communities.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMatthew Schnell is now behind bars for facilitating a substantial drug trafficking organization that pushed pounds of methamphetamine into New Hampshire, fueling addiction, violence, and instability in our neighborhoods,\\u201d said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Boston Division. \\u201cLet this hefty sentence be a warning to others who think they can profit from flooding our streets with dangerous drugs and escape responsibility. The FBI and our partners will find you and ensure you are brought to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2022, the FBI\\u2019s New Hampshire Major Offender Task Force, and the New Hampshire State Police (\\u201cNHSP\\u201d) began investigating a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in New Hampshire. The investigation revealed that Schnell obtained methamphetamine from suppliers and then would provide methamphetamine to Thomas Conway for further distribution in New Hampshire. Phone calls and text messages intercepted during the investigation confirmed that the defendant worked as Conway\\u2019s primary supplier and business partner. For example, in one conversation, Schnell, Conway, and another co-conspirator discussed the need to need to restructure their drug trafficking organization to ensure a sufficient drug supply. In multiple other intercepted communications, Schnell discussed obtaining multiple pound quantities of methamphetamine for Conway. Law enforcement later seized drugs before they could be distributed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force in partnership with the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. The Concord Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and New Hampton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of New Hampshire\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:55:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055738\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Hampshire\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:53:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055599\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/pr\\/massachusetts-man-sentenced-nearly-six-years-trafficking-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"ebdee0b2-e7ad-4c2f-9884-fe6aa17a5e9c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit\\u0026nbsp;the proceeds traceable to the offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies\\u2019 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees\\u2019 paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee\\u2019s paychecks to the company\\u2019s health insurance plan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is\\u0026nbsp;presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Labor \\u2013 Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation \\u2013 Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:06:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:50:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059024\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees\\u2019 Benefit Plans\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\",\"uuid\":\"db552d61-470f-4192-905a-daa9f2432448\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE.\\u202fThe defendant got in the victim\\u2019s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back \\u2013 including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same\\u0026nbsp;gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent\\u2019s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF1 006346\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:14:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:12:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death  \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-dc-man-guilty-2024-stabbing-death\",\"uuid\":\"c0817b47-17c4-4b61-b72e-f8caa76b4456\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 A man who possessed child sexual abuse material and uploaded it to Snapchat was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua J. Klenke, 21, of St. Charles, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Snapchat. After an investigation sparked by CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, investigators found videos and pictures containing CSAM on Klenke\\u2019s phone, as well as a picture of him kissing a 4-year-old girl on the lips. Klenke, who worked for a cleaning company, encountered the girl in a client\\u2019s home.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe St. Charles County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:20:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071623\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:00:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070445\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua J. Klenke admitted uploading child sexual abuse material to Snapchat and kissing a 4-year-old.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"St. Charles, Missouri Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/st-charles-missouri-man-sentenced-14-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"fcba41e0-f564-490d-833e-a45a4379daaa\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cOur Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, \\u201cdead serious,\\u201d and demanded \\u201cloose bills\\u201d in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10.\\u0026nbsp; The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee.\\u0026nbsp; In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later.\\u0026nbsp; After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s General Crimes Section.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPIERRE LEE\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge: 43\\u003Cbr\\u003EZebulon, NC\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067479\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067028\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-found-guilty-using-firearm-during-brooklyn-attempted-bank-robbery\",\"uuid\":\"16b23235-1254-4110-b793-7eea839c1c66\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u0026nbsp; In April 2026, a federal jury\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-convicted-jury-child-sexual-exploitation-charges\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Lopez-Guevara of 14 counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) \\u2013 Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and State\\u2019s Attorney Tara H. Jackson, Prince George\\u2019s County State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office (PGCSAO).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2024, Lopez-Guevara sexually abused three minors, ranging from 2 to 11 years old at the time of the abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Lopez-Guevara, who lived in Laurel and Baltimore, produced images and videos of himself and the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, many of which were found on the dark web.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, HSI initiated an investigation after its investigators in Portland, Maine, observed previously unseen child sexual abuse videos on the internet.\\u0026nbsp; After identifying Minor Victim 1 in the videos, and determining that he lived in Maryland, investigators quickly referred the matter to HSI Maryland.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI then executed several search warrants in Maryland and discovered Lopez-Guevara in possession of two phones.\\u0026nbsp;Investigators forensically examined the phones and discovered additional images of Lopez-Guevara sexually abusing Minor Victim 1, along with depictions of Lopez-Guevara exploiting Minor Victim 2 and Minor Victim 3. Additionally, investigators found hundreds of CSAM images and videos on the phone associated with an encrypted messaging application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKnow2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\/key-definitions#CSEA\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Echild sexual exploitation and abuse\\u003C\\/a\\u003E; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.\\u0026nbsp; Learn more about Know2Protect at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, BCPD, PGCSAO, for their work in the investigation, along with the Center for Hope, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Victoria Liu who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources\\u0026nbsp;available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:34:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065277\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/honduran-illegal-alien-sentenced-more-six-decades-federal-prison-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"68c2d4bf-fcda-41be-9d27-5f437c0afd0c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ESANTA ANA, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJulie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMolina is charged with four counts of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit\\u2019s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group\\u2019s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit\\u2019s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit\\u2019s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI is investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:21:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053695\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-158\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/former-treasurer-orange-county-high-school-football-booster-club-arrested-allegedly\",\"uuid\":\"67abfdd8-940f-4080-91bf-e75123b5b729\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E appointment for four minors in Madison County.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor\\u2019s deceased father.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor\\u2019s account without special order from the court.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that during his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Eappointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors\\u2019 bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors\\u2019 accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EElliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors\\u2019 accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cConduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056050\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/former-bethalto-attorney-accused-stealing-over-400000-minor-clients\",\"uuid\":\"5318c323-fc31-43a3-a20c-982b0fcaded7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAUGUSTA, Georgia:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E A Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECheryl Galloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 67, of Yulee, Florida, was sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $454,624.20 and criminal forfeiture of $96,119 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states.\\u0026nbsp; The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGalloway\\u2019s co-defendant, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERicki Johnson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $104,632 after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence demonstrates this offices commitment to safeguarding taxpayer-funded benefits against illegal access by those that would seek to enrich themselves,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cThis case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will work together to identify these criminals and hold them accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Cheryl Galloway and her co-conspirators fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits they were not entitled to, draining hard-earned tax dollars and betraying the trust of hardworking Americans. Stealing benefits is a crime and every fraudster will face the consequences they deserve,\\u201d said Anthony P. D\\u2019Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. \\u0022This ruling stands as a powerful reminder that my office, in partnership with the Department of Justice, is committed to identifying and prosecuting every individual who defrauds our benefits programs. Accountability and justice will always prevail.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.oig.dol.gov\\/hotline.htm\\u0022\\u003Ewww.oig.dol.gov\\/hotline.htm\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, J. Bishop Ravenel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:08:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070906\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:28:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789068522\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"89-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Florida woman sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/florida-woman-sentenced-federal-prison-conspiracy-commit-mail-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"bfaba790-ddf7-4dae-86a1-fa00bb0877fc\"}]}",
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Tool Progress E0057

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Tool Result E0058

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":7},\"executionTime\":2.553062915802002},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958577\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\",\"uuid\":\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday found a St. Louis County felon caught with two guns guilty of a firearm charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence and testimony at the trial, which started Tuesday, showed that a Hazelwood police officer stopped Paris D. McPeters on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stay in his lane. After learning that McPeters had an active warrant, the officer arrested him. \\u0026nbsp;Before the vehicle was towed, the officer asked McPeters whether there were guns or drugs in the vehicle and McPeters responded, \\u201cyeah.\\u201d A search revealed a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine, five additional loaded large capacity magazines, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with a loaded 50 round drum magazine and extra ammunition, evidence and testimony showed. McPeters has numerous prior convictions. As a felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460821\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/ex_3screenshot_2026-09-09_142849.png?itok=dMPaNNE2\\u0022 width=\\u00221238\\u0022 height=\\u0022710\\u0022 alt=\\u0022A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\u0022 title=\\u0022Exhibit 3\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EMcPeters, 44, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 9. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Christian Goeke and Joseph Green are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:32:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788989579\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:26:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788989210\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460821\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"51c611b3-558c-44ff-96f2-9e044383bcd4\"},\"alt\":\"A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\",\"title\":\"Exhibit 3\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EParis D. McPeters was caught with a rifle, a pistol and drum magazines.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jurors Convict St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns, Drum Magazines\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/jurors-convict-st-louis-county-felon-caught-guns-drum-magazines\",\"uuid\":\"c62e8cb2-66ca-4c9b-a499-da822758e8d9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENASHVILLE \\u2013 Twelve Robertson County residents have been indicted on federal charges stemming from a multi-year investigation into the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine and related firearms offenses, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned the indictments in August 2026, charging the defendants with conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, along with numerous substantive drug trafficking offenses. One defendant is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation began in approximately January 2024 and was conducted by the Robertson County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from federal law enforcement partners.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, members of the Robertson County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, ATF, Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), and United States Marshals Service conducted a coordinated operation to execute federal arrest warrants. Six of the indicted defendants were arrested during the operation. An additional defendant was located in Ohio the following day and remains in custody there on state warrants. Five defendants were already in custody on other charges and are expected to make appearances in federal court later this month.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendants and charges include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDerrick Artell Hurt, 47, of Greenbrier, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESantoria Antonio Brown, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cHoggie,\\u201d 48, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Twelve counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETerrelle Epprise Payne, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cRat Daddy,\\u201d 53, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Five counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Felon in possession of a firearm\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMichael Christopher Bigbee, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cBig Mike,\\u201d 42, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlandis Vontay Darden, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cApple Head,\\u201d 43, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Nine counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnthony Terrill Swoopes, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSwoopes,\\u201d 56, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETomika Mischelle Woodard, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMickey,\\u201d 53, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Seven counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Lee Brown, 41, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENola Ann Davis, 52, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Ray Bugg, 36, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EShauntai Deshelle Black, 29, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- One count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETaylor Leighann Rose, 29, of Springfield, Tennessee\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCocaine and crack cocaine poison neighborhoods, and the firearms that travel with them turn drug deals into shootings,\\u201d said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. \\u201cFor more than two years, the Robertson County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and ATF built this case one transaction at a time, and today a dozen alleged traffickers are facing federal charges because of that work. This office will use every tool the law gives us to dismantle drug networks in Middle Tennessee, and we are grateful to our partners at every level of law enforcement who made this operation possible.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case is a prime example of law enforcement working collectively to protect our communities and confront those who blatantly disregard public safety by distributing deadly narcotics and illegally possessing firearms,\\u201d said\\u0026nbsp;Special Agent In charge, Jamey VanVliet.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and charge those individuals who continue to make our neighborhoods unsafe through armed drug trafficking activities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe success of this multi-year operation is a direct reflection of the strong working relationships and partnerships we have built with our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,\\u201d said Robertson County Sheriff Michael Van Dyke. \\u201cThrough communication, cooperation, and a shared commitment to our community, we were able to remove illegal drugs and firearms from our streets and hold those involved in criminal activity accountable. We are grateful to every agency and officer who worked together to make this operation a success.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation remains active and ongoing. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the resources of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes available tools to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E#####\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:30:20-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788989420\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"ae7c72ba-bf50-4359-9290-5b9c46908ba6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Tennessee, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:27:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788989234\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"12 Robertson County Defendants Charged in Federal Cocaine Trafficking Case\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdtn\\/pr\\/12-robertson-county-defendants-charged-federal-cocaine-trafficking-case\",\"uuid\":\"e370462d-c046-4366-9831-971de9e08c92\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISONBURG, Va. \\u2013 An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMiguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia,\\u0026nbsp; pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Arellano conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Clarke County from approximately 2024 and 2025. Specifically, Arellano made drug sales to confidential sources working with the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. During multiple transactions, Arellano provided the confidential source with methamphetamine ranging in weight between 725 grams and 1,485 grams. In all, Arellano made at least five sales to the confidential source.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs a result of these transactions, task force members obtained a search warrant for a farm property in Clarke County operated by Arellano. In a barn on the property, investigators located 4,631 grams of pure methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA second search warrant was executed at Arellano\\u2019s home in Marshall, Virginia. Investigators recovered $15,495 in cash. Some of that cash was identified as being the same money given to the confidential source to be used to purchase drugs from Arellano. In addition, Arellano admitted he worked for an individual in Mexico who sent him methamphetamine to distribute. Arellano would then wire the proceeds back to Mexico at the individual\\u2019s direction.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFurther investigation revealed that in 2012, Arellano was federally convicted in the District of New Jersey for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. He ultimately served 37 months in federal prison. Following that sentence, and on at least two other occasions, Arellano was removed from the United States \\u2013 once in 2013 and again in 2015. Following both removals, he unlawfully returned to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being investigated by the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration Winchester Resident Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecial Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Endres is prosecuting the case for the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:00:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958828\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"42408f6b-4f4a-4762-b2b2-1130ea85b32f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:58:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958718\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISONBURG, Va. \\u2013 An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMiguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia,\\u0026nbsp; pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug, Immigration Charges \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdva\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-mexico-pleads-guilty-federal-drug-immigration-charges\",\"uuid\":\"45a3538c-6272-4a32-a126-300b448b9622\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. PAUL \\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Hudeife Muhamud Mire, aka \\u201cJuice,\\u201d 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHis plea hearing was before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on September 8, 2026. Mire faces a statutory minimum of 20 years in prison and supervised release of at least four years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in 2021, Mire conspired with others to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendant remained a part of the agreement until May 17, 2022, when he was arrested.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 16, 2022, Mire sold fentanyl to the victim, a 19-year-old woman. The victim died from an overdose minutes after consuming one of the pills. On May 17, 2022, police executed a search warrant at Mire\\u2019s apartment and seized roughly 180 grams of fentanyl pills and over $4,000 in cash. On May 19, 2022, state authorities charged the defendant with third-degree murder related to the woman\\u2019s death.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 1, 2022, Mire was released under certain conditions. However, days later, on June 4, 2022, and in violation of his release conditions, Mire flew to Kenya on a one-way ticket and remained there until January 6, 2026, when federal agents returned him to the United States. Mire admitted that he flew to Kenya to avoid investigation and prosecution for the offense.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s guilty plea represents a crucial step toward justice for the young woman and her family. Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who peddle deadly drugs into our communities,\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cA 19-year-old woman lost her life to a pill that the dealer knew contained fentanyl, a substance that continues to destroy families and communities,\\u201d said Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\u201cDespite his best efforts to evade justice, Mire must now face the consequences of his actions, while also living with the knowledge that his dealings left a young woman\\u2019s family and friends grieving.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMire\\u2019s plea agreement reflects the strength of our partnerships and the unwavering commitment required to bring fugitives to justice,\\u201d said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. \\u201cThe gravity of the defendant\\u2019s crimes\\u2014including distributing fentanyl that caused a young woman\\u2019s death and then fleeing to obstruct justice\\u2014underscores the importance of holding offenders accountable. This outcome was made possible through close cooperation with the Government of Kenya, whose assistance ensured the defendant\\u2019s return to the United States to face federal charges. We are grateful for their collaboration and for the collective work of all our law enforcement partners who made this result possible.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFleeing the country didn\\u2019t allow Mr. Mire to escape accountability,\\u201d said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. \\u201cThis case is a strong example of what can happen when law enforcement partners stay committed to seeing a case through, no matter how long it takes or how far it leads. The BCA was proud to work alongside our partners here in Minnesota and internationally to help locate Mr. Mire and return him to the United States to answer for his actions, moving this case one step closer to justice for Samantha Myers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAlthough no sentence given to Hudeife Mire will equal the loss experienced by the victim\\u2019s family and friends, we are grateful that there will be accountability for his role in her death.\\u0026nbsp; Fentanyl continues to be a plague on our society and hopefully this prosecution deters others.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force, Kandiyohi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Willmar Police Department would also like to acknowledge our state and federal partners who assisted in locating Mire in a foreign county and getting him back to the United States to be prosecuted,\\u201d said CEE-VI Commander Ross Ardoff, Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson, and Willmar Police Chief Mike Holme in a joint statement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the CEE-VI (Cooperative Enforcement Effort) Drug and Gang Task Force, the Kandiyohi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Willmar Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:59:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994785\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Minnesota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:58:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994720\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Man Pleads Guilty and Faces at Least 20 Years\\u2019 Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a Young Woman\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/man-pleads-guilty-and-faces-least-20-years-imprisonment-conspiracy-distribute-fentanyl\",\"uuid\":\"7f84d512-382f-4fcd-927a-d1c4c009b2c3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cI am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Rhode Island United States Attorney\\u2019s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. City of Pawtucket et al.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s website at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:32:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971544\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"e587e060-7060-40d3-a133-fa686fd8a043\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Voting Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:53:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1032\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"},{\"uuid\":\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\",\"name\":\"Voting and Elections\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-conduct-election-monitoring-rhode-island-primary-election\",\"uuid\":\"75930653-0d55-4691-9876-033e4bdab558\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\u201cPRDT\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\u201cgestors\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT\\u2019s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax\\/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed.\\u0026nbsp; The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGuilty Plea\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentencing Date\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAmount of Loss\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E7\\/20\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E10\\/9\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$665,639.74\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[3] C\\u00e9sar Rodr\\u00edguez-Nieves\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$852,487.91\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[4] 24 Marketplace, Inc.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$35,125.84\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[5] A La Silla LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$205,514.32\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[6] RB Marketplace, Inc.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$154,728.92\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/11\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$526,263.67\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[8] L\\u00edneas de Puerto Rico, Inc.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/11\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$393,408.91\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[9] H\\u00e9ctor J. Baerga-Ortiz\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/31\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$1,833,983.81\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[10] H\\u00edjole Foods Bistro Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/31\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$447,241.14\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[11] HVP Foods Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/31\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$564,545.29\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[12] BBB Food, Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E9\\/1\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$386,483.84\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[13] BHV Food, Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E9\\/1\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$225,340.52\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[14] VHB Foods Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E9\\/1\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$131,461.02\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[15] Carlos A. Rodr\\u00edguez-Ortiz\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E7\\/7\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E10\\/2\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$33,660.53\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/10\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E11\\/6\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$33,660.53\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$193,577.03\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/3\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E11\\/6\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$437,785.06\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[22] Gabrielle L\\u00f3pez-Berr\\u00edos\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E7\\/20\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E10\\/16\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$36,138.55\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[23] G Fitness \\u0026amp; Body Performance LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/19\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$17,309.55\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[24] Veevo LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/19\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$1,642\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[25] Patria Silfa-B\\u00e1ez\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/25\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/22\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$47,209.44\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[26] Print Pro LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/25\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/22\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$44,630.33\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin G\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. G\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Mar\\u00eda Antongiorgi-Jord\\u00e1n.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EActing U.S. Attorney H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico\\u2019s Financial Fraud \\u0026amp; Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/twenty-six-individuals-and-companies-indicted-puerto-rico-tax-debt-scheme-involving-over\\u0022\\u003Ethe indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, the July 2, 2026 \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/hacienda-employee-pleads-guilty-bribery-conspiracy-involving-loss-5-million\\u0022\\u003Eguilty plea of Luis A. Jim\\u00e9nez-Guzm\\u00e1n\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/hacienda-employee-and-business-owner-plead-guilty-wire-fraud-conspiracy-involving-loss\\u0022\\u003Eguilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:29:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956974\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Puerto Rico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:17:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956260\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2026-096\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\u201cPRDT\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\u201cgestors\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/additional-hacienda-employee-and-business-owners-plead-guilty-bribery-conspiracies\",\"uuid\":\"6c4442ff-37a1-4b48-8809-0813101a5bc5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.\\u0026nbsp;The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIf Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\u201cMy Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, run on Telegram, where vendors market their services to scam center operators. The Telegram channel operated primarily in Chinese, and the vendors post their available services on the Telegram channel, to include creating custom scam investment websites, laundering or \\u201cwashing\\u201d money that scammers obtain from victims of wire fraud, and soliciting trafficking victims to work in scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Once a scammer \\u201cpurchases\\u201d a service from the vendor, Xinbi as an organization holds money to be paid to the vendor until the vendors services are complete, to assure the scammers that the vendors will perform the services.\\u0026nbsp; The seizure warrant alleged numerous instances where U.S. victims funds were traced to specific vendors who advertised their money laundering services on the Telegram channel, and posted cryptocurrency wallets for payment on Telegram. On September 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia authorized seizure of the Telegram channels hosting this marketplace.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460531\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_1.png?itok=09_8fNvh\\u0022 width=\\u0022766\\u0022 height=\\u0022386\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with typed message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on the Telegram channel for \\u201ccleaning\\u201d cryptocurrency for Chinese RMB.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460541\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_2.png?itok=R2Zy8I-9\\u0022 width=\\u0022789\\u0022 height=\\u0022831\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on Telegram for recruiting scammer (\\u201cLevel 1\\u201d) agents.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, also pursuant to the same warrant, the Scam Center Strike Force seized two cryptocurrency wallets that Xinbi used to collect payments for vendors, which collectively held approximately $12 million in funds. Law enforcement also sought restraint of 47 additional cryptocurrency wallets that were believed to be associated with money laundering on Xinbi\\u2019s network and with vendors who had worked for scammers. Due to all these coordinated efforts, more than $52 million\\u0026nbsp;worth of cryptocurrency was restrained from Xinbi and its network of vendors that facilitate the organized crime groups running scam centers around the globe. The Strike Force thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, in further coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization and identified numerous cryptocurrency wallets associated with Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; OFAC also designated two other entities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; As a result of today\\u2019s action by OFAC, all property and interests in property of these three sanctioned entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury\\u2019s press release at this link.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAfter scamming money from hardworking Americans, criminals operating overseas laundered it through the Xinbi Guarantee network, which operated under the false assumption that they were out of the reach of U.S. law enforcement, said Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. \\u201cThe efforts of our agents and investigative analysts to trace stolen funds and unveil the scope of this criminal network shows that while the methods of fraud may change, our resolve does not.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cGlobal crime faces global justice, and the FBI will stop at nothing to protect the finances that hardworking Americans build over their lifetimes,\\u201d said FBI Chicago Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. \\u201cToday\\u2019s seizure demonstrates law enforcement and prosecutors\\u2019 commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling scam centers, no matter where they are in the world. The FBI is committed to working with domestic and international partners around the globe to stop scammers before they attack and hold these criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cScam centers are not just criminal enterprises\\u2014they are engines of exploitation that devastate victims, families, and communities,\\u0022 said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. \\u0022 These schemes target our elderly and most vulnerable, draining their finances, eroding their trust, and in many cases leaving lasting emotional harm. The FBI is committed to dismantling these networks, holding offenders accountable, and restoring a sense of security to the communities they prey upon.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlso today, U.S. Attorney Pirro announced that the Scam Center Strike Force will expand its scope to attack scam center compounds globally. In furtherance of that expanded focus, U.S. Attorney Pirro, together with U.S. Attorney Heyman and FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, announced that the Strike Force had deployed a team to Madagascar to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on scam centers in that country. The Strike Force team, which was in country for two weeks, supported the local authorities related to the take down of 13 scam centers that were being operated by Chinese organized crime syndicates. The Strike Force team assisted in the processing of more than 3,200 electronic devices. The Strike Force team has also opened their own investigations on the basis of interviews conducted of the nearly 400 arrestees, at least approximately 30 of whom where Chinese leaders of the scam compounds, who were repatriated to China by the Chinese government.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Transnational criminal organizations don\\u2019t care about borders, and the Department of Justice won\\u2019t either,\\u201d said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.\\u0026nbsp; We are proud to be part of the Scam Center Strike Force and will work to eliminate these international scam networks and bring justice to U.S. fraud victims across the country.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460546\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_3.jpg?itok=47xCRnm6\\u0022 width=\\u0022485\\u0022 height=\\u0022646\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Boxes of phones from Chinese run compounds in Madagascar, reviewed by the Strike Force\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460551\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\u0022 width=\\u00221430\\u0022 height=\\u00221073\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\/we\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\u0026amp;muv=1\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\u0026amp;cac=1\\u0026amp;sams=1\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\u0026amp;hch=1\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Csup\\u003E[1]\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\u2019s Order.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788964120\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alaska\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460531\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with typed message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460541\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460546\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460551\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of room full of monitors\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\",\"name\":\"Cybercrime\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\",\"uuid\":\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cKeeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper\\u2019s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant\\u2019s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames faces up to twenty years\\u2019 imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years\\u2019 imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years\\u2019 imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:36:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957397\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:34:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking \\u0026amp; Firearm Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/prior-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-firearm-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"ef46b8d2-07fd-4ef4-b9c9-23ff24cb9fa9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis serial felon\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957073\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\",\"uuid\":\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cI appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cI am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as \\u2018a shining star at the Department of Justice.\\u2019 Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460506\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-141.jpg?itok=E6H6z9Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221846\\u0022 height=\\u00221235\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office\\u2019s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys\\u2019 Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460511\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-124.jpg?itok=hnRliz5p\\u0022 width=\\u00221858\\u0022 height=\\u00221238\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460516\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-115.jpg?itok=TRij08Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221827\\u0022 height=\\u00221211\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys\\u2019 oath of office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460526\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-dsc03904.jpg?itok=DZNyCj0k\\u0022 width=\\u00221773\\u0022 height=\\u00221175\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003ESince mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)\\u2014setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices, district attorney\\u2019s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Adams\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAnita Balasubramanian\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJamie Bircoll\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation \\u0026amp; Trial Practice Associate at Alston \\u0026amp; Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Cespedes\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMelissa Cheape\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKassi Conley\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section.\\u0026nbsp;She worked as a Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBernard Eyth\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDaniel Grill\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham \\u0026amp; Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESteve Hsieh\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENicholas Joy\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENathaniel Lancaster\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb \\u0026amp; Tyler and clerked for\\u0026nbsp;Judge Myrna P\\u00e9rez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Letzring\\u0026nbs [...truncated 13350 characters...] , and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov\\/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov\\/psc and click on the tab \\u0022resources.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:57:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788991063\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:56:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788990984\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDustin A. Hill, 22, of Florence, Ariz., was indicted by a federal grand jury with charges related to enticement of a minor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Arizona Man Charged with Enticing and Transporting a Minor to Kentucky to Engage in Illegal Sexual Conduct\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/arizona-man-charged-enticing-and-transporting-minor-kentucky-engage-illegal-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"29ab1d99-a5c5-4fd5-bc33-9426915b54da\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman announced that RYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Fitzgibbons was employed as the executive director of the Holy Family Home \\u0026amp; Shelter (\\u201cHFHS\\u201d), a charitable non-profit group in Windham serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing emergency and temporary housing.\\u0026nbsp; Between approximately November 2021 and June 2023, Fitzgibbons stole approximately $734,683 from HFHS by making unauthorized wire transfers from the HFHS bank account to his personal accounts, unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals using the HFHS debit card, and writing checks from the HFHS account to himself and to \\u201ccash.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons attempted to cover up his criminal behavior by providing false transactions and donation accounting reports to HFHS board members.\\u0026nbsp; As part of his scheme, in September 2022, Fitzgibbons failed to report to the HFHS board a $392,000 donation HFHS received from the estate of an individual.\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons was terminated from HFHS in September 2023.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn approximately April 2024, Fitzgibbons was hired as the executive director of the Durham Middlefield Youth \\u0026amp; Family Services (\\u0022DMYFS\\u0022), a charitable nonprofit based in Middlefield serving children and families by fostering a healthy community through prevention, intervention, treatment and community-building.\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons used the DMYFS bank account to make approximately $40,769 in unauthorized purchases that he falsely justified as \\u201cmarketing,\\u201d \\u201cwages,\\u201d and \\u201csoftware.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp; He was terminated from the position in August 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFitzgibbons pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.\\u0026nbsp; He also has agreed to pay $775,452.21 in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFitzgibbons is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 2.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Middlefield Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Judicial District of Middlesex for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:17:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788992263\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:16:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788992168\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Killingly Man Admits Stealing $775K from Nonprofits in Windham and Middlefield\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/killingly-man-admits-stealing-775k-nonprofits-windham-and-middlefield\",\"uuid\":\"0273a229-3928-4933-9993-c42ed93f722b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guodeng Chen, and Didi Huang, both of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 8, 2022, Chen and Huang caused 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $29,433.60 for this shipment. On April 28, 2022, Chen and Huang caused another 45,000 pounds of stolen used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $30,618.00 for this shipment. The defendants knew there was a high probability that the cooking oil was stolen.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Anthony Licari, Special Agent-In-Charge, Midwestern Region.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing for defendant Chen is scheduled on December 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and sentencing for defendant Huang is scheduled for December 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., both before Judge Geraci.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:04:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995062\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994951\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guodeng Chen, and Didi Huang, both of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Pittsford men plead guilty for their roles in stolen cooking oil scheme\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/two-pittsford-men-plead-guilty-their-roles-stolen-cooking-oil-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"e463819e-a2ea-4319-91cb-9bde3766522b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962761\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY \\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959888\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mekfira Hussein and Abduljabar Hussein have been sentenced to a total of 97 months in prison for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Husseins submitted fraudulent claims for meals and ultimately obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendants were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel on September 8, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMekfira Hussein\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 42, of Shakopee, Minnesota, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/shakopee-woman-pleads-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003EJanuary 31, 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAbduljabar Hussein\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 45,\\u0026nbsp;of Shakopee, Minnesota,\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/four-more-defendants-plead-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003EFebruary 5, 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children. Their sentences today reflect my office\\u2019s commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable,\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer prosecuted these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote: Press releases on the defendants\\u2019 indictment (\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/shakopee-couple-indicted-their-roles-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOctober 18, 2022\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E) linked here.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:47:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994037\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Minnesota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:46:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788993976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Couple in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months\\u2019 Imprisonment\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/couple-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme-sentenced-97-months-imprisonment\",\"uuid\":\"95e3ce0e-765a-4e68-9b0d-5857276e015d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959768\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959085\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHAMMOND \\u2013 Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMcClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case.\\u0026nbsp; Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois.\\u0026nbsp; Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cRecidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud.\\u0026nbsp; They\\u0026nbsp;used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased.\\u0026nbsp;In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana.\\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.\\u0026nbsp;Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana.\\u0026nbsp; Thanks to the partnership of the\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-gove [...truncated]

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":20,\\\"page\\\":7},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.553062915802002},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958577\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota  and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday found a St. Louis County felon caught with two guns guilty of a firearm charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence and testimony at the trial, which started Tuesday, showed that a Hazelwood police officer stopped Paris D. McPeters on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stay in his lane. After learning that McPeters had an active warrant, the officer arrested him. \\\\u0026nbsp;Before the vehicle was towed, the officer asked McPeters whether there were guns or drugs in the vehicle and McPeters responded, \\\\u201cyeah.\\\\u201d A search revealed a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine, five additional loaded large capacity magazines, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with a loaded 50 round drum magazine and extra ammunition, evidence and testimony showed. McPeters has numerous prior convictions. As a felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460821\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/ex_3screenshot_2026-09-09_142849.png?itok=dMPaNNE2\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221238\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022710\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Exhibit 3\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcPeters, 44, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 9. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Christian Goeke and Joseph Green are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:32:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989579\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:26:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989210\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460821\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51c611b3-558c-44ff-96f2-9e044383bcd4\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Exhibit 3\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EParis D. McPeters was caught with a rifle, a pistol and drum magazines.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jurors Convict St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns, Drum Magazines\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/jurors-convict-st-louis-county-felon-caught-guns-drum-magazines\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c62e8cb2-66ca-4c9b-a499-da822758e8d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENASHVILLE \\\\u2013 Twelve Robertson County residents have been indicted on federal charges stemming from a multi-year investigation into the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine and related firearms offenses, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury returned the indictments in August 2026, charging the defendants with conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, along with numerous substantive drug trafficking offenses. One defendant is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation began in approximately January 2024 and was conducted by the Robertson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from federal law enforcement partners.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, members of the Robertson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, ATF, Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), and United States Marshals Service conducted a coordinated operation to execute federal arrest warrants. Six of the indicted defendants were arrested during the operation. An additional defendant was located in Ohio the following day and remains in custody there on state warrants. Five defendants were already in custody on other charges and are expected to make appearances in federal court later this month.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants and charges include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDerrick Artell Hurt, 47, of Greenbrier, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESantoria Antonio Brown, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cHoggie,\\\\u201d 48, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Twelve counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETerrelle Epprise Payne, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRat Daddy,\\\\u201d 53, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Five counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Felon in possession of a firearm\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMichael Christopher Bigbee, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cBig Mike,\\\\u201d 42, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlandis Vontay Darden, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cApple Head,\\\\u201d 43, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Nine counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnthony Terrill Swoopes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSwoopes,\\\\u201d 56, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETomika Mischelle Woodard, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cMickey,\\\\u201d 53, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Seven counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid Lee Brown, 41, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENola Ann Davis, 52, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDonald Ray Bugg, 36, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EShauntai Deshelle Black, 29, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- One count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETaylor Leighann Rose, 29, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCocaine and crack cocaine poison neighborhoods, and the firearms that travel with them turn drug deals into shootings,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. \\\\u201cFor more than two years, the Robertson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and ATF built this case one transaction at a time, and today a dozen alleged traffickers are facing federal charges because of that work. This office will use every tool the law gives us to dismantle drug networks in Middle Tennessee, and we are grateful to our partners at every level of law enforcement who made this operation possible.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case is a prime example of law enforcement working collectively to protect our communities and confront those who blatantly disregard public safety by distributing deadly narcotics and illegally possessing firearms,\\\\u201d said\\\\u0026nbsp;Special Agent In charge, Jamey VanVliet.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and charge those individuals who continue to make our neighborhoods unsafe through armed drug trafficking activities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe success of this multi-year operation is a direct reflection of the strong working relationships and partnerships we have built with our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,\\\\u201d said Robertson County Sheriff Michael Van Dyke. \\\\u201cThrough communication, cooperation, and a shared commitment to our community, we were able to remove illegal drugs and firearms from our streets and hold those involved in criminal activity accountable. We are grateful to every agency and officer who worked together to make this operation a success.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation remains active and ongoing. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the resources of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes available tools to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E#####\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:30:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989420\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ae7c72ba-bf50-4359-9290-5b9c46908ba6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:27:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989234\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"12 Robertson County Defendants Charged in Federal Cocaine Trafficking Case\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdtn\\\\/pr\\\\/12-robertson-county-defendants-charged-federal-cocaine-trafficking-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e370462d-c046-4366-9831-971de9e08c92\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISONBURG, Va. \\\\u2013 An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMiguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia,\\\\u0026nbsp; pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Arellano conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Clarke County from approximately 2024 and 2025. Specifically, Arellano made drug sales to confidential sources working with the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. During multiple transactions, Arellano provided the confidential source with methamphetamine ranging in weight between 725 grams and 1,485 grams. In all, Arellano made at least five sales to the confidential source.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a result of these transactions, task force members obtained a search warrant for a farm property in Clarke County operated by Arellano. In a barn on the property, investigators located 4,631 grams of pure methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA second search warrant was executed at Arellano\\\\u2019s home in Marshall, Virginia. Investigators recovered $15,495 in cash. Some of that cash was identified as being the same money given to the confidential source to be used to purchase drugs from Arellano. In addition, Arellano admitted he worked for an individual in Mexico who sent him methamphetamine to distribute. Arellano would then wire the proceeds back to Mexico at the individual\\\\u2019s direction.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFurther investigation revealed that in 2012, Arellano was federally convicted in the District of New Jersey for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. He ultimately served 37 months in federal prison. Following that sentence, and on at least two other occasions, Arellano was removed from the United States \\\\u2013 once in 2013 and again in 2015. Following both removals, he unlawfully returned to the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being investigated by the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration Winchester Resident Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Endres is prosecuting the case for the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:00:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958828\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"42408f6b-4f4a-4762-b2b2-1130ea85b32f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:58:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958718\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISONBURG, Va. \\\\u2013 An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMiguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia,\\\\u0026nbsp; pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug, Immigration Charges \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdva\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-mexico-pleads-guilty-federal-drug-immigration-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"45a3538c-6272-4a32-a126-300b448b9622\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. PAUL \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Hudeife Muhamud Mire, aka \\\\u201cJuice,\\\\u201d 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHis plea hearing was before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on September 8, 2026. Mire faces a statutory minimum of 20 years in prison and supervised release of at least four years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in 2021, Mire conspired with others to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendant remained a part of the agreement until May 17, 2022, when he was arrested.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 16, 2022, Mire sold fentanyl to the victim, a 19-year-old woman. The victim died from an overdose minutes after consuming one of the pills. On May 17, 2022, police executed a search warrant at Mire\\\\u2019s apartment and seized roughly 180 grams of fentanyl pills and over $4,000 in cash. On May 19, 2022, state authorities charged the defendant with third-degree murder related to the woman\\\\u2019s death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 1, 2022, Mire was released under certain conditions. However, days later, on June 4, 2022, and in violation of his release conditions, Mire flew to Kenya on a one-way ticket and remained there until January 6, 2026, when federal agents returned him to the United States. Mire admitted that he flew to Kenya to avoid investigation and prosecution for the offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea represents a crucial step toward justice for the young woman and her family. Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who peddle deadly drugs into our communities,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cA 19-year-old woman lost her life to a pill that the dealer knew contained fentanyl, a substance that continues to destroy families and communities,\\\\u201d said Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\\\u201cDespite his best efforts to evade justice, Mire must now face the consequences of his actions, while also living with the knowledge that his dealings left a young woman\\\\u2019s family and friends grieving.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMire\\\\u2019s plea agreement reflects the strength of our partnerships and the unwavering commitment required to bring fugitives to justice,\\\\u201d said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. \\\\u201cThe gravity of the defendant\\\\u2019s crimes\\\\u2014including distributing fentanyl that caused a young woman\\\\u2019s death and then fleeing to obstruct justice\\\\u2014underscores the importance of holding offenders accountable. This outcome was made possible through close cooperation with the Government of Kenya, whose assistance ensured the defendant\\\\u2019s return to the United States to face federal charges. We are grateful for their collaboration and for the collective work of all our law enforcement partners who made this result possible.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFleeing the country didn\\\\u2019t allow Mr. Mire to escape accountability,\\\\u201d said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. \\\\u201cThis case is a strong example of what can happen when law enforcement partners stay committed to seeing a case through, no matter how long it takes or how far it leads. The BCA was proud to work alongside our partners here in Minnesota and internationally to help locate Mr. Mire and return him to the United States to answer for his actions, moving this case one step closer to justice for Samantha Myers.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAlthough no sentence given to Hudeife Mire will equal the loss experienced by the victim\\\\u2019s family and friends, we are grateful that there will be accountability for his role in her death.\\\\u0026nbsp; Fentanyl continues to be a plague on our society and hopefully this prosecution deters others.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force, Kandiyohi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Willmar Police Department would also like to acknowledge our state and federal partners who assisted in locating Mire in a foreign county and getting him back to the United States to be prosecuted,\\\\u201d said CEE-VI Commander Ross Ardoff, Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson, and Willmar Police Chief Mike Holme in a joint statement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the CEE-VI (Cooperative Enforcement Effort) Drug and Gang Task Force, the Kandiyohi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Willmar Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:59:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994785\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:58:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994720\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Pleads Guilty and Faces at Least 20 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a Young Woman\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/man-pleads-guilty-and-faces-least-20-years-imprisonment-conspiracy-distribute-fentanyl\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f84d512-382f-4fcd-927a-d1c4c009b2c3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\\\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\\\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cI am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Rhode Island United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. City of Pawtucket et al.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s website at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:32:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788971544\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e587e060-7060-40d3-a133-fa686fd8a043\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights - Voting Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Rhode Island\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:53:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962030\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1032\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\\\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\\\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Voting and Elections\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-conduct-election-monitoring-rhode-island-primary-election\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75930653-0d55-4691-9876-033e4bdab558\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT\\\\u2019s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax\\\\/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed.\\\\u0026nbsp; The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGuilty Plea\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencing Date\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAmount of Loss\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/9\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$665,639.74\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[3] C\\\\u00e9sar Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Nieves\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$852,487.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[4] 24 Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$35,125.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[5] A La Silla LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$205,514.32\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[6] RB Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$154,728.92\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$526,263.67\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[8] L\\\\u00edneas de Puerto Rico, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$393,408.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[9] H\\\\u00e9ctor J. Baerga-Ortiz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,833,983.81\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[10] H\\\\u00edjole Foods Bistro Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$447,241.14\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[11] HVP Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$564,545.29\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[12] BBB Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$386,483.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[13] BHV Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$225,340.52\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[14] VHB Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$131,461.02\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[15] Carlos A. Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Ortiz\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/7\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/2\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/10\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$193,577.03\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/3\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$437,785.06\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[22] Gabrielle L\\\\u00f3pez-Berr\\\\u00edos\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/16\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$36,138.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[23] G Fitness \\\\u0026amp; Body Performance LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$17,309.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[24] Veevo LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,642\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[25] Patria Silfa-B\\\\u00e1ez\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$47,209.44\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[26] Print Pro LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$44,630.33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Mar\\\\u00eda Antongiorgi-Jord\\\\u00e1n.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActing U.S. Attorney H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico\\\\u2019s Financial Fraud \\\\u0026amp; Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-individuals-and-companies-indicted-puerto-rico-tax-debt-scheme-involving-over\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ethe indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, the July 2, 2026 \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-pleads-guilty-bribery-conspiracy-involving-loss-5-million\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Luis A. Jim\\\\u00e9nez-Guzm\\\\u00e1n\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-and-business-owner-plead-guilty-wire-fraud-conspiracy-involving-loss\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:29:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956974\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:17:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956260\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-096\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/additional-hacienda-employee-and-business-owners-plead-guilty-bribery-conspiracies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6c4442ff-37a1-4b48-8809-0813101a5bc5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.\\\\u0026nbsp;The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\\\u201cXinbi\\\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury\\\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIf Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\\\u201cMy Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, run on Telegram, where vendors market their services to scam center operators. The Telegram channel operated primarily in Chinese, and the vendors post their available services on the Telegram channel, to include creating custom scam investment websites, laundering or \\\\u201cwashing\\\\u201d money that scammers obtain from victims of wire fraud, and soliciting trafficking victims to work in scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Once a scammer \\\\u201cpurchases\\\\u201d a service from the vendor, Xinbi as an organization holds money to be paid to the vendor until the vendors services are complete, to assure the scammers that the vendors will perform the services.\\\\u0026nbsp; The seizure warrant alleged numerous instances where U.S. victims funds were traced to specific vendors who advertised their money laundering services on the Telegram channel, and posted cryptocurrency wallets for payment on Telegram. On September 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia authorized seizure of the Telegram channels hosting this marketplace.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460531\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_1.png?itok=09_8fNvh\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022766\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022386\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Green and white chat box with typed message\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on the Telegram channel for \\\\u201ccleaning\\\\u201d cryptocurrency for Chinese RMB.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460541\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_2.png?itok=R2Zy8I-9\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022789\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022831\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Green and white chat box with message\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on Telegram for recruiting scammer (\\\\u201cLevel 1\\\\u201d) agents.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, also pursuant to the same warrant, the Scam Center Strike Force seized two cryptocurrency wallets that Xinbi used to collect payments for vendors, which collectively held approximately $12 million in funds. Law enforcement also sought restraint of 47 additional cryptocurrency wallets that were believed to be associated with money laundering on Xinbi\\\\u2019s network and with vendors who had worked for scammers. Due to all these coordinated efforts, more than $52 million\\\\u0026nbsp;worth of cryptocurrency was restrained from Xinbi and its network of vendors that facilitate the organized crime groups running scam centers around the globe. The Strike Force thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EToday, in further coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury\\\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization and identified numerous cryptocurrency wallets associated with Xinbi.\\\\u0026nbsp; OFAC also designated two other entities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Xinbi.\\\\u0026nbsp; As a result of today\\\\u2019s action by OFAC, all property and interests in property of these three sanctioned entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury\\\\u2019s press release at this link.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAfter scamming money from hardworking Americans, criminals operating overseas laundered it through the Xinbi Guarantee network, which operated under the false assumption that they were out of the reach of U.S. law enforcement, said Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. \\\\u201cThe efforts of our agents and investigative analysts to trace stolen funds and unveil the scope of this criminal network shows that while the methods of fraud may change, our resolve does not.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cGlobal crime faces global justice, and the FBI will stop at nothing to protect the finances that hardworking Americans build over their lifetimes,\\\\u201d said FBI Chicago Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s seizure demonstrates law enforcement and prosecutors\\\\u2019 commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling scam centers, no matter where they are in the world. The FBI is committed to working with domestic and international partners around the globe to stop scammers before they attack and hold these criminals accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cScam centers are not just criminal enterprises\\\\u2014they are engines of exploitation that devastate victims, families, and communities,\\\\u0022 said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. \\\\u0022 These schemes target our elderly and most vulnerable, draining their finances, eroding their trust, and in many cases leaving lasting emotional harm. The FBI is committed to dismantling these networks, holding offenders accountable, and restoring a sense of security to the communities they prey upon.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlso today, U.S. Attorney Pirro announced that the Scam Center Strike Force will expand its scope to attack scam center compounds globally. In furtherance of that expanded focus, U.S. Attorney Pirro, together with U.S. Attorney Heyman and FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, announced that the Strike Force had deployed a team to Madagascar to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on scam centers in that country. The Strike Force team, which was in country for two weeks, supported the local authorities related to the take down of 13 scam centers that were being operated by Chinese organized crime syndicates. The Strike Force team assisted in the processing of more than 3,200 electronic devices. The Strike Force team has also opened their own investigations on the basis of interviews conducted of the nearly 400 arrestees, at least approximately 30 of whom where Chinese leaders of the scam compounds, who were repatriated to China by the Chinese government.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Transnational criminal organizations don\\\\u2019t care about borders, and the Department of Justice won\\\\u2019t either,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.\\\\u0026nbsp; We are proud to be part of the Scam Center Strike Force and will work to eliminate these international scam networks and bring justice to U.S. fraud victims across the country.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460546\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_3.jpg?itok=47xCRnm6\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022485\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022646\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Boxes of phones from Chinese run compounds in Madagascar, reviewed by the Strike Force\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460551\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221430\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221073\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\\\/we\\\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\\\u0026amp;muv=1\\\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\\\u0026amp;cac=1\\\\u0026amp;sams=1\\\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\\\u0026amp;hch=1\\\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003E[1]\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\\\u2019s Order.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788964120\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alaska\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460531\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with typed message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460541\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460546\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460551\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of room full of monitors\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\\\u201cXinbi\\\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Cybercrime\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cKeeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper\\\\u2019s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant\\\\u2019s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames faces up to twenty years\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years\\\\u2019 imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years\\\\u2019 imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:36:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957397\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:34:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957278\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking \\\\u0026amp; Firearm Offenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/prior-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-firearm-offenses\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ef46b8d2-07fd-4ef4-b9c9-23ff24cb9fa9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis serial felon\\\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\\\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957073\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\\\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cI appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cI am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as \\\\u2018a shining star at the Department of Justice.\\\\u2019 Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460506\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-141.jpg?itok=E6H6z9Y7\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221846\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221235\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office\\\\u2019s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys\\\\u2019 Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460511\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-124.jpg?itok=hnRliz5p\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221858\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221238\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460516\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-115.jpg?itok=TRij08Y7\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221827\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221211\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys\\\\u2019 oath of office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460526\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-dsc03904.jpg?itok=DZNyCj0k\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221773\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221175\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO NDGA 09\\\\/03\\\\/26 - AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESince mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)\\\\u2014setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices, district attorney\\\\u2019s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJonathan Adams\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a\\\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAnita Balasubramanian\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJamie Bircoll\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation \\\\u0026amp; Trial Practice Associate at Alston \\\\u0026amp; Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPatrick Cespedes\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMelissa Cheape\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKassi Conley\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section.\\\\u0026nbsp;She worked as a Special Matters \\\\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate at King \\\\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBernard Eyth\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\\\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDaniel Grill\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\\\u0026amp; National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham \\\\u0026amp; Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESteve Hsieh\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENicholas Joy\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds \\\\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENathaniel Lancaster\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb \\\\u0026amp; Tyler and clerked for\\\\u0026nbsp;Judge Myrna P\\\\u00e9rez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJonathan Letzring\\\\u0026nbs\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov\\\\/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov\\\\/psc and click on the tab \\\\u0022resources.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:57:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788991063\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:56:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788990984\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDustin A. Hill, 22, of Florence, Ariz., was indicted by a federal grand jury with charges related to enticement of a minor.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Arizona Man Charged with Enticing and Transporting a Minor to Kentucky to Engage in Illegal Sexual Conduct\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/arizona-man-charged-enticing-and-transporting-minor-kentucky-engage-illegal-sexual\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"29ab1d99-a5c5-4fd5-bc33-9426915b54da\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman announced that RYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Fitzgibbons was employed as the executive director of the Holy Family Home \\\\u0026amp; Shelter (\\\\u201cHFHS\\\\u201d), a charitable non-profit group in Windham serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing emergency and temporary housing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Between approximately November 2021 and June 2023, Fitzgibbons stole approximately $734,683 from HFHS by making unauthorized wire transfers from the HFHS bank account to his personal accounts, unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals using the HFHS debit card, and writing checks from the HFHS account to himself and to \\\\u201ccash.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons attempted to cover up his criminal behavior by providing false transactions and donation accounting reports to HFHS board members.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of his scheme, in September 2022, Fitzgibbons failed to report to the HFHS board a $392,000 donation HFHS received from the estate of an individual.\\\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons was terminated from HFHS in September 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn approximately April 2024, Fitzgibbons was hired as the executive director of the Durham Middlefield Youth \\\\u0026amp; Family Services (\\\\u0022DMYFS\\\\u0022), a charitable nonprofit based in Middlefield serving children and families by fostering a healthy community through prevention, intervention, treatment and community-building.\\\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons used the DMYFS bank account to make approximately $40,769 in unauthorized purchases that he falsely justified as \\\\u201cmarketing,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cwages,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201csoftware.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; He was terminated from the position in August 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFitzgibbons pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; He also has agreed to pay $775,452.21 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFitzgibbons is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 2.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Middlefield Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State\\\\u2019s Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Judicial District of Middlesex for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:17:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788992263\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:16:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788992168\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Killingly Man Admits Stealing $775K from Nonprofits in Windham and Middlefield\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/killingly-man-admits-stealing-775k-nonprofits-windham-and-middlefield\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0273a229-3928-4933-9993-c42ed93f722b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guodeng Chen, and Didi Huang, both of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 8, 2022, Chen and Huang caused 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $29,433.60 for this shipment. On April 28, 2022, Chen and Huang caused another 45,000 pounds of stolen used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $30,618.00 for this shipment. The defendants knew there was a high probability that the cooking oil was stolen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Anthony Licari, Special Agent-In-Charge, Midwestern Region.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing for defendant Chen is scheduled on December 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and sentencing for defendant Huang is scheduled for December 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., both before Judge Geraci.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:04:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995062\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994951\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guodeng Chen, and Didi Huang, both of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Pittsford men plead guilty for their roles in stolen cooking oil scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/two-pittsford-men-plead-guilty-their-roles-stolen-cooking-oil-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e463819e-a2ea-4319-91cb-9bde3766522b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962761\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison  for Production of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY \\\\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959888\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mekfira Hussein and Abduljabar Hussein have been sentenced to a total of 97 months in prison for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Husseins submitted fraudulent claims for meals and ultimately obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel on September 8, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMekfira Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 42, of Shakopee, Minnesota, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-woman-pleads-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 31, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAbduljabar Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 45,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Shakopee, Minnesota,\\\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/four-more-defendants-plead-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 5, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children. Their sentences today reflect my office\\\\u2019s commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer prosecuted these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Press releases on the defendants\\\\u2019 indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-couple-indicted-their-roles-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOctober 18, 2022\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:47:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994037\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:46:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788993976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Couple in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months\\\\u2019 Imprisonment\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/couple-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme-sentenced-97-months-imprisonment\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"95e3ce0e-765a-4e68-9b0d-5857276e015d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959768\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959085\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHAMMOND \\\\u2013 Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois.\\\\u0026nbsp; Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRecidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; They\\\\u0026nbsp;used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased.\\\\u0026nbsp;In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.\\\\u0026nbsp;Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Thanks to the partnership of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-gove\n[...truncated]",
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  "elapsed": 3.526729076
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01XrjRFuRjtTxZkoJYJzLFYN

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases page 8", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0060

(no result)

Tool Result E0061

{ "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":8},\"executionTime\":2.4585349559783936},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958577\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\",\"uuid\":\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A man who carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the backyard of a Chicago residence has been sentenced to 14 and a half years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOn the evening of Nov. 2, 2023, KENNETH MERRITT and DAMARRI CONNER carjacked an Audi sedan in the backyard of a residence in Chicago\\u2019s Beverly neighborhood.\\u0026nbsp; A woman and her daughter had just returned home in another vehicle when Conner and Merritt sprang from a hiding place and attacked them.\\u0026nbsp; Merritt threw the mother violently to the ground, ripped her purse from her arms, and threatened to kill her and her daughter.\\u0026nbsp; Conner then pointed a gun at the woman\\u2019s husband, who had rushed outside to help his family.\\u0026nbsp; The carjackers took the Audi and drove off.\\u0026nbsp; The carjacking was captured on a home-security video, which can be viewed\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/media\\/1435751\\u0022\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMerritt, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm offenses.\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Merritt to 14 and a half years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EConner, 23, of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm offenses.\\u0026nbsp;Judge Harjani sentenced Conner on April 8, 2026, to the same period of incarceration as Merritt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMerritt\\u2019s sentence was\\u0026nbsp;announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting\\u0026nbsp;Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI;\\u0026nbsp;and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cThis crime was heinous and violent,\\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government\\u2019s sentencing memorandum in Merritt\\u2019s case.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThe trauma he inflicted on his victims will take years to repair.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:51:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972715\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:50:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972626\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKENNETH MERRITT violently carjacked a vehicle in the backyard of a residence in Chicago\\u2019s Beverly neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 14 and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking Vehicle at Gunpoint in Backyard of Chicago Residence\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-14-and-half-years-federal-prison-carjacking-vehicle-gunpoint-backyard\",\"uuid\":\"9d36b1f1-38d2-4319-8611-45892baa77c6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962761\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cKeeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper\\u2019s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant\\u2019s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames faces up to twenty years\\u2019 imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years\\u2019 imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years\\u2019 imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:36:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957397\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:34:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking \\u0026amp; Firearm Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/prior-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-firearm-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"ef46b8d2-07fd-4ef4-b9c9-23ff24cb9fa9\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460536\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b70cb281-10dc-4e84-8b06-b5cec0ccbafe\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees. BARRON and AHIGA were previously arrested and presented in the Central District of California and are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment\\u0026nbsp;this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute frauds targeting vulnerable victims,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga allegedly preyed upon financially struggling homeowners who got behind on their mortgages by charging them monthly fees and leading them to believe much of their past-due balances would be forgiven, causing a number of those customers\\u2019 homes to go into foreclosure.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga\\u2019s alleged fraud scheme involved taking money from people who sought assistance with their mortgages,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cThis scheme hurt hundreds of vulnerable people financially. The FBI will continue to prioritize complex financial fraud investigations to protect the public from anyone who takes advantage of consumers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Indictment:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least in or about June 2018 through at least in or about September 2022, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, BARRON and AHIGA, together with others, defrauded clients of their mortgage modification business and the clients\\u2019 mortgage lenders. BARRON, AHIGA, and others operated their mortgage modification business under different names, including Green Equitable Solutions, d\\/b\\/a Academy Home Services; South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc. d\\/b\\/a Home Matters USA; Apex Consulting \\u0026amp; Associates Inc., d\\/b\\/a Golden Home Services America; and Infocom Entertainment Ltd., d\\/b\\/a Atlantic Pacific Service (collectively, the \\u201cCompany\\u201d). BARRON, AHIGA, and others solicited homeowners who were struggling to make monthly payments on their mortgages and promised to have the homeowners\\u2019 interest rates and monthly payments reduced in exchange for monthly fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBARRON, AHIGA, and others induced the Company\\u2019s clients to accept their services and to continue to pay the monthly fees by lying about, among other matters, the amount of time that the mortgage modification process would take and the nature of the fees that the clients were paying for mortgage modification services. The defendants and others also directed clients to stop making monthly mortgage payments to their lenders and to pay the Company monthly fees instead. The conspirators falsely told clients that their lenders would forgive their arrearages and, in many instances, that part of their monthly payments to the Company would go to pay down the balances of their mortgage loans. BARRON, AHIGA, and others also defrauded the clients\\u2019 lenders by making material misrepresentations and by engaging in fraudulent practices to cause the lenders to modify the clients\\u2019 mortgages, including by creating and submitting fabricated bank statements so that the Company\\u2019s clients appeared to meet the lenders\\u2019 criteria for a modification. Clients of the mortgage modification business operated by BARRON, AHIGA, and others paid over approximately $15 million for mortgage modification services, and a number of those clients\\u2019 homes went into foreclosure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESOLIS BARRON, 63, of La Habra Heights, California, and AHIGA, 56, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec5d39d84a4de11b601230de288ff8684\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the\\u0026nbsp;Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:21:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963718\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:10:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963009\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-252\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Individuals Charged In Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Modification Scheme\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/two-individuals-charged-multimillion-dollar-mortgage-modification-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"0088b663-5338-41b8-827e-a928d3aed37e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictments, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdwin Aldana\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a separate indictment, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EKevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:37:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975453\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975081\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-91\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ri\\/pr\\/federal-grand-jury-indicts-two-men-illegal-reentry-united-states\",\"uuid\":\"439f62c4-ffee-455d-9f7f-cb523d22c6f3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cI am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Rhode Island United States Attorney\\u2019s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. City of Pawtucket et al.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s website at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:32:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971544\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"e587e060-7060-40d3-a133-fa686fd8a043\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Voting Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:53:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1032\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"},{\"uuid\":\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\",\"name\":\"Voting and Elections\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-conduct-election-monitoring-rhode-island-primary-election\",\"uuid\":\"75930653-0d55-4691-9876-033e4bdab558\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERUTLAND \\u2013 The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 8, 2026, Todd Hoyte, 55, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier scheduled a hearing on December 3, 2026, to determine any restitution that Hoyte owes as part of his sentence. Previously, Hoyte pleaded guilty to making interstate threats and cyberstalking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between July 29, 2024, and September 25, 2024, in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats, Hoyte, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, placed more than 10 cellphone calls to Vermont, during which he left voicemails for Grand Isle County State\\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito. These voicemails included a threat on DiSabito\\u2019s life as well as insults, slurs, and derogatory language against DiSabito. At the time, DiSabito was prosecuting Hoyte for a criminal offense. In pleading guilty, Hoyte admitted that he made communications to harass and intimidate DiSabito as well as for the purpose of issuing a threat and with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat to DiSabito.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Hoyte was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:01:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:58:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"U.S. Virgin Islands Man Sentenced For Making Interstate Threats and Stalking\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/us-virgin-islands-man-sentenced-making-interstate-threats-and-stalking\",\"uuid\":\"937304d3-fafe-464d-9594-9549359d226d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959768\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959085\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis serial felon\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957073\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\",\"uuid\":\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDALLAS \\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi\\u2011state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Esentenced Dian Huang Jiang, aka \\u201cDanny Jiang,\\u201d to 60 months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDrug traffickers who exploit interstate networks to pump poison into our communities will be met with the full force of federal prosecution,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cMr. Jiang built a sprawling, multi\\u2011state drug enterprise that pushed thousands of kilograms of marijuana and funneled millions of dollars in proceeds through criminal channels. The Homeland Security Task Force unraveled that operation piece by piece, and today\\u2019s sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that threaten public safety.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case sends a clear message; drug traffickers do not get a free pass simply because marijuana laws vary from state to state\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. \\u201cMr. Jiang moved large quantities of marijuana across state lines and supplied dangerous criminals who fuel violence and threaten our communities.\\u0026nbsp; We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle networks and prevent drug proceeds from strengthening criminal organizations.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jiang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. From at least January 2020 through August 2023, Jiang led a large\\u2011scale distribution network responsible for moving marijuana from Oklahoma to customers across Texas and multiple other states. Jiang routinely used cellular telephones to coordinate marijuana deliveries, negotiate pricing and direct customers where to drop off large quantities of U.S. currency as payment for drug shipments.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records show Jiang acquired multi\\u2011ton quantities of marijuana, often distributing up to 1,000 pounds in a single day, and required customers to purchase between 20 and 300 pounds per transaction. He utilized multiple residences in Oklahoma and Texas to store, distribute and collect proceeds from the illegal drug enterprise. As part of the conspiracy, Jiang and his coconspirators transported drug proceeds between states, sometimes sending substantial amounts overseas to include the People\\u2019s Republic of China. On Aug. 8, 2023, federal agents seized more than $2.8 million from bank accounts and safe deposit boxes linked to Jiang\\u2019s operation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the prison term, Jiang faces forfeiture of several residential properties used in the drug\\u2011trafficking operation as well as more than $4 million in drug proceeds traced by investigators.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration \\u2013 Dallas conducted the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Oklahoma City), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Oklahoma, and the City of Mesquite Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Lo Galbo and Rick Calvert prosecuted the case with assistance from AUSAs Phelesa Guy and Jonathan Penn.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and other local law enforcement entities.\\u0026nbsp; The prosecution was led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975079\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:27:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788974831\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi\\u2011state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dallas man who conspired to use interstate facilities to aid a marijuana trafficking enterprise sentenced in Homeland Security Task Force investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/dallas-man-who-conspired-use-interstate-facilities-aid-marijuana-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"9daa50bb-1eef-4c47-ae07-6519490771a4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.\\u0026nbsp;The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIf Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\u201cMy Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, run on Telegram, where vendors market their services to scam center operators. The Telegram channel operated primarily in Chinese, and the vendors post their available services on the Telegram channel, to include creating custom scam investment websites, laundering or \\u201cwashing\\u201d money that scammers obtain from victims of wire fraud, and soliciting trafficking victims to work in scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Once a scammer \\u201cpurchases\\u201d a service from the vendor, Xinbi as an organization holds money to be paid to the vendor until the vendors services are complete, to assure the scammers that the vendors will perform the services.\\u0026nbsp; The seizure warrant alleged numerous instances where U.S. victims funds were traced to specific vendors who advertised their money laundering services on the Telegram channel, and posted cryptocurrency wallets for payment on Telegram. On September 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia authorized seizure of the Telegram channels hosting this marketplace.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460531\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_1.png?itok=09_8fNvh\\u0022 width=\\u0022766\\u0022 height=\\u0022386\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with typed message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on the Telegram channel for \\u201ccleaning\\u201d cryptocurrency for Chinese RMB.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460541\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_2.png?itok=R2Zy8I-9\\u0022 width=\\u0022789\\u0022 height=\\u0022831\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on Telegram for recruiting scammer (\\u201cLevel 1\\u201d) agents.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, also pursuant to the same warrant, the Scam Center Strike Force seized two cryptocurrency wallets that Xinbi used to collect payments for vendors, which collectively held approximately $12 million in funds. Law enforcement also sought restraint of 47 additional cryptocurrency wallets that were believed to be associated with money laundering on Xinbi\\u2019s network and with vendors who had worked for scammers. Due to all these coordinated efforts, more than $52 million\\u0026nbsp;worth of cryptocurrency was restrained from Xinbi and its network of vendors that facilitate the organized crime groups running scam centers around the globe. The Strike Force thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, in further coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization and identified numerous cryptocurrency wallets associated with Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; OFAC also designated two other entities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; As a result of today\\u2019s action by OFAC, all property and interests in property of these three sanctioned entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury\\u2019s press release at this link.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAfter scamming money from hardworking Americans, criminals operating overseas laundered it through the Xinbi Guarantee network, which operated under the false assumption that they were out of the reach of U.S. law enforcement, said Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. \\u201cThe efforts of our agents and investigative analysts to trace stolen funds and unveil the scope of this criminal network shows that while the methods of fraud may change, our resolve does not.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cGlobal crime faces global justice, and the FBI will stop at nothing to protect the finances that hardworking Americans build over their lifetimes,\\u201d said FBI Chicago Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. \\u201cToday\\u2019s seizure demonstrates law enforcement and prosecutors\\u2019 commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling scam centers, no matter where they are in the world. The FBI is committed to working with domestic and international partners around the globe to stop scammers before they attack and hold these criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cScam centers are not just criminal enterprises\\u2014they are engines of exploitation that devastate victims, families, and communities,\\u0022 said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. \\u0022 These schemes target our elderly and most vulnerable, draining their finances, eroding their trust, and in many cases leaving lasting emotional harm. The FBI is committed to dismantling these networks, holding offenders accountable, and restoring a sense of security to the communities they prey upon.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlso today, U.S. Attorney Pirro announced that the Scam Center Strike Force will expand its scope to attack scam center compounds globally. In furtherance of that expanded focus, U.S. Attorney Pirro, together with U.S. Attorney Heyman and FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, announced that the Strike Force had deployed a team to Madagascar to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on scam centers in that country. The Strike Force team, which was in country for two weeks, supported the local authorities related to the take down of 13 scam centers that were being operated by Chinese organized crime syndicates. The Strike Force team assisted in the processing of more than 3,200 electronic devices. The Strike Force team has also opened their own investigations on the basis of interviews conducted of the nearly 400 arrestees, at least approximately 30 of whom where Chinese leaders of the scam compounds, who were repatriated to China by the Chinese government.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Transnational criminal organizations don\\u2019t care about borders, and the Department of Justice won\\u2019t either,\\u201d said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.\\u0026nbsp; We are proud to be part of the Scam Center Strike Force and will work to eliminate these international scam networks and bring justice to U.S. fraud victims across the country.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460546\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_3.jpg?itok=47xCRnm6\\u0022 width=\\u0022485\\u0022 height=\\u0022646\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Boxes of phones from Chinese run compounds in Madagascar, reviewed by the Strike Force\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460551\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\u0022 width=\\u00221430\\u0022 height=\\u00221073\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\/we\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\u0026amp;muv=1\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\u0026amp;cac=1\\u0026amp;sams=1\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\u0026amp;hch=1\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Csup\\u003E[1]\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\u2019s Order.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788964120\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alaska\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460531\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with typed message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460541\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460546\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460551\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of room full of monitors\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\",\"name\":\"Cybercrime\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\",\"uuid\":\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\u201ctimknight444,\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant results for Knight\\u2019s Instagram account and collected two J-Pay tablets at Central State Prison. One tablet was found in Knight\\u2019s locker and had been altered but did not contain CSAM. Investigators found the second tablet with Knight when they confiscated it. Investigators confirmed that the tablet was altered and that it contained CSAM. Also, the device contained Google search histories for information on abusing, trafficking, and raping children. Investigators found 3,410 unique artifacts of CSAM material that include images of prepubescent children. Most images came from five different video series.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Brown and Julius Jefferson are prosecuting the case for the Government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975784\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:41:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975664\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"State Inmate with Child Sexual Abuse Material Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdga\\/pr\\/state-inmate-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"9b7861e6-d832-48a0-9103-ef51184b8c64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 5, 2025, the Buffalo Police Department, ATF and FBI executed a search warrant at Carter\\u2019s Jackson Avenue residence in Sloan, during which they seized two loaded pistols and approximately 25 pounds of suspected marijuana. Carter was convicted of felony charges in January 2010, in Erie County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:11:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995482\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:07:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges\",\"uuid\":\"c903a18b-d277-4668-824e-e3b2e52b722c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cI appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cI am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as \\u2018a shining star at the Department of Justice.\\u2019 Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460506\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-141.jpg?itok=E6H6z9Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221846\\u0022 height=\\u00221235\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office\\u2019s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys\\u2019 Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460511\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-124.jpg?itok=hnRliz5p\\u0022 width=\\u00221858\\u0022 height=\\u00221238\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460516\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-115.jpg?itok=TRij08Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221827\\u0022 height=\\u00221211\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys\\u2019 oath of office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460526\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-dsc03904.jpg?itok=DZNyCj0k\\u0022 width=\\u00221773\\u0022 height=\\u00221175\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003ESince mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)\\u2014setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices, district attorney\\u2019s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Adams\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAnita Balasubramanian\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJamie Bircoll\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation \\u0026amp; Trial Practice Associate at Alston \\u0026amp; Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Cespedes\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMelissa Cheape\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKassi Conley\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section.\\u0026nbsp;She worked as a Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBernard Eyth\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDaniel Grill\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham \\u0026amp; Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESteve Hsieh\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENicholas Joy\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENathaniel Lancaster\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb \\u0026amp; Tyler and clerked for\\u0026nbsp;Judge Myrna P\\u00e9rez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Letzring\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of North Carolina and clerked for Judge Phyllis Kravitch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten, Sr. of the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Emory University School of Law and Davidson College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESara Lim\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the Middle District of Georgia and clerked for U.S. District Judge Louis Sands of the Middle District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law\\u0026nbsp;and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonell Lucca\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as an Associate Director for Prosecutorial Operations at the OCDETF Executive Office after serving as an AUSA in two districts and clerking for Justice Wayne Kidwell of the Idaho Supreme Court. She attended University of Notre Dame Law School and Arizona State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJulia Martin\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the DeKalb County District Attorney\\u2019s Office and worked as an Associate with Greenberg Traurig. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECole McFerren\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChristopher Meredith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant Chief Counsel with Immigration \\u0026amp; Customs Enforcement. He attended Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJames Murray\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department and clerked for U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger of the Middle District of Florida and U.S. Magistrate Judge Daryl Bloom in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He attended Cornell Law School and the State University of New York at Geneseo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAndrew Navratil\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Bureau of Prisons attorney serving as a Civil Division SAUSA. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen in the Northern District of Georgia and attended Georgia State University College of Law and Carleton College.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERebecca Perez-Espejo\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis an Immigration \\u0026amp; Customs Enforcement attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Training Section of the Criminal Division. She attended the Emory University School of Law and the University of Central Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdward Robinson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as an AUSA in the Southern District of New York and clerked for U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter of the Southern District of New York. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKendall Runyan\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She worked as a Business \\u0026amp; Securities Litigation Associate at Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKaitlyn Salinas\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant\\u0026nbsp;Attorney General\\u0026nbsp;in\\u0026nbsp;the Georgia Attorney General\\u2019s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EStephen Scaife\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAmy Schwarzl\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERobert Shapiro\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law\\u0026nbsp;and Piedmont University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Silloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a\\u0026nbsp;Counsel at Balch \\u0026amp; Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He\\u0026nbsp;attended Mercer University School of\\u0026nbsp;Law and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlexa Simonini\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard \\u0026amp; Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChloe Smith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. She worked as\\u0026nbsp;Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate\\u0026nbsp;at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAdam Sunstrom\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Suter\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division and as the Department\\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an\\u0026nbsp;AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKatie Taylor\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis \\u0026amp; Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDrew Waldbeser\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EConor Woods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:15:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788966955\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959935\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460506\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b14b1127-5ee4-4f86-ae24-51c245f1393c\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460511\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"43d86eec-7140-40a9-ae8d-0836f6d4f6d7\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460516\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"56e24643-27aa-443a-a101-fdc78dc56798\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460521\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"ce7f8675-b995-4d6f-909b-de34876708bd\"},\"alt\":\"ATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460526\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"cbc59f3e-fc92-475f-9ae5-0b46b36a4d62\"},\"alt\":\"USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/attorney-general-todd-blanche-celebrates-prosecutorial-successes-and-record-setting\",\"uuid\":\"7a64cf38-a160-4e08-b947-18a0ba3cf6f6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJiemaliahl Cleveland, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 23, 2025, Cleveland possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Colville scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cleveland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:10:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973842\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973773\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/sharon-resident-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"ba3a7e38-4d78-4086-b524-6191825ad1d0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHOUSTON \\u2013 A 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAuthorities have now taken Alla Nowowiejski into custody. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett at 2 p.m. today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients to assist them with establishing or adjusting their work status and applying for work visas. However, she allegedly never submitted the applications or only submitted them in part.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment further alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents or reference numbers associated with active immigration cases unrelated to her clients. She allegedly used the documents and reference number to make the clients believe immigration authorities were processing their applications.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Homeland Security \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service \\u2013 OIG conducted the investigation with assistance of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Harris County Constable\\u2019s Office - Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice has created the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/opa\\/pr\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-1.govdelivery.com\\/cl0\\/https:%2f%2fwww.justice.gov%2fopa%2fpr%2facting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement%3futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery\\/1\\/0100019d6f561d1d-a5ad8fc3-ccfc-4d37-a8ed-\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022node\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u0022e6ae8384-0ce7-4217-8137-6de5cc8173ad\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022canonical\\u0022\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement\\u0026nbsp;Division\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:04:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077845\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788998760\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Immigration attorney arrested in alleged fraud scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/immigration-attorney-arrested-alleged-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"d0a1b5a1-2f8a-4a33-a5d8-a3aeea64ea41\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E plead guilty on May 29, 2026, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1347, and was sentenced to ten years in prison on October 23, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained fraudulent doctors\\u2019 orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries\\u2019 treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;submitted over $174\\u0026nbsp;million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55\\u0026nbsp;million in reimbursements.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBefore \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was indicted, law enforcement officers seized several of his assets that had been purchased with the proceeds of his scheme. In its recent order, the Court ordered the forfeiture of the contents of an investment account and a bank account held in the name of a company controlled by \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, along with three vehicles purchased with proceeds of the offense, namely, a Land Rover Range Rover, a BMW, and a Ford F-150. In total, the forfeited accounts contained a value totaling approximately $7,051,089.08.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAsset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that allows the United States to take property derived from, or used to commit, federal crimes. It is designed to strip criminals of the proceeds of their offenses, remove the instruments used to carry them out, and- where victims can be identified- return recovered funds to the people who were harmed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of\\u0026nbsp;the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, handled the forfeiture component.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995545\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994977\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of Approximately $7 Million and Three Vehicles Following Conviction of Jamie P. McNamara\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/federal-court-orders-forfeiture-approximately-7-million-and-three-vehicles-following\",\"uuid\":\"3de0624c-5732-4481-ac73-96d37a2b6035\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBerkeley Law School\\u2019s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court\\u2019s decision in \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cThe Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTitle VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,\\u201d said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. \\u201cThe Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today\\u2019s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department\\u2019s investigation found that post-\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley\\u2019s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be \\u201cgrouped\\u201d with others of the same \\u201cprimary identity\\u201d in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias \\u003Cem\\u003Eagainst\\u003C\\/em\\u003E Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law\\u2019s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department\\u2019s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u2019s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school\\u2019s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMembers of the public may report possible civil rights violations at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ewww.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENote\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Read the Department\\u2019s Findings Letter \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/crt\\/media\\/1460556\\/dl\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981025\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\",\"name\":\"Civil Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"781c38e6-513e-4ab2-9590-0ff78dc743a5\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Educational Opportunities Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:36:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971776\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1033\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\",\"uuid\":\"619b3f3a-4973-45f0-aa49-c02eb29eaa82\"}]}", "content_length": 114579, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json" }

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    "content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":8},\"executionTime\":2.4585349559783936},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958577\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota  and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\",\"uuid\":\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A man who carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the backyard of a Chicago residence has been sentenced to 14 and a half years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOn the evening of Nov. 2, 2023, KENNETH MERRITT and DAMARRI CONNER carjacked an Audi sedan in the backyard of a residence in Chicago\\u2019s Beverly neighborhood.\\u0026nbsp; A woman and her daughter had just returned home in another vehicle when Conner and Merritt sprang from a hiding place and attacked them.\\u0026nbsp; Merritt threw the mother violently to the ground, ripped her purse from her arms, and threatened to kill her and her daughter.\\u0026nbsp; Conner then pointed a gun at the woman\\u2019s husband, who had rushed outside to help his family.\\u0026nbsp; The carjackers took the Audi and drove off.\\u0026nbsp; The carjacking was captured on a home-security video, which can be viewed\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/media\\/1435751\\u0022\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMerritt, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm offenses.\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Merritt to 14 and a half years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EConner, 23, of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm offenses.\\u0026nbsp;Judge Harjani sentenced Conner on April 8, 2026, to the same period of incarceration as Merritt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMerritt\\u2019s sentence was\\u0026nbsp;announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting\\u0026nbsp;Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI;\\u0026nbsp;and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cThis crime was heinous and violent,\\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government\\u2019s sentencing memorandum in Merritt\\u2019s case.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThe trauma he inflicted on his victims will take years to repair.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:51:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972715\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:50:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972626\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKENNETH MERRITT violently carjacked a vehicle in the backyard of a residence in Chicago\\u2019s Beverly neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 14 and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking Vehicle at Gunpoint in Backyard of Chicago Residence\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-14-and-half-years-federal-prison-carjacking-vehicle-gunpoint-backyard\",\"uuid\":\"9d36b1f1-38d2-4319-8611-45892baa77c6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962761\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison  for Production of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cKeeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper\\u2019s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant\\u2019s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames faces up to twenty years\\u2019 imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years\\u2019 imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years\\u2019 imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:36:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957397\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:34:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking \\u0026amp; Firearm Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/prior-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-firearm-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"ef46b8d2-07fd-4ef4-b9c9-23ff24cb9fa9\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460536\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b70cb281-10dc-4e84-8b06-b5cec0ccbafe\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees. BARRON and AHIGA were previously arrested and presented in the Central District of California and are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment\\u0026nbsp;this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute frauds targeting vulnerable victims,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga allegedly preyed upon financially struggling homeowners who got behind on their mortgages by charging them monthly fees and leading them to believe much of their past-due balances would be forgiven, causing a number of those customers\\u2019 homes to go into foreclosure.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga\\u2019s alleged fraud scheme involved taking money from people who sought assistance with their mortgages,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cThis scheme hurt hundreds of vulnerable people financially. The FBI will continue to prioritize complex financial fraud investigations to protect the public from anyone who takes advantage of consumers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Indictment:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least in or about June 2018 through at least in or about September 2022, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, BARRON and AHIGA, together with others, defrauded clients of their mortgage modification business and the clients\\u2019 mortgage lenders. BARRON, AHIGA, and others operated their mortgage modification business under different names, including Green Equitable Solutions, d\\/b\\/a Academy Home Services; South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc. d\\/b\\/a Home Matters USA; Apex Consulting \\u0026amp; Associates Inc., d\\/b\\/a Golden Home Services America; and Infocom Entertainment Ltd., d\\/b\\/a Atlantic Pacific Service (collectively, the \\u201cCompany\\u201d). BARRON, AHIGA, and others solicited homeowners who were struggling to make monthly payments on their mortgages and promised to have the homeowners\\u2019 interest rates and monthly payments reduced in exchange for monthly fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBARRON, AHIGA, and others induced the Company\\u2019s clients to accept their services and to continue to pay the monthly fees by lying about, among other matters, the amount of time that the mortgage modification process would take and the nature of the fees that the clients were paying for mortgage modification services. The defendants and others also directed clients to stop making monthly mortgage payments to their lenders and to pay the Company monthly fees instead. The conspirators falsely told clients that their lenders would forgive their arrearages and, in many instances, that part of their monthly payments to the Company would go to pay down the balances of their mortgage loans. BARRON, AHIGA, and others also defrauded the clients\\u2019 lenders by making material misrepresentations and by engaging in fraudulent practices to cause the lenders to modify the clients\\u2019 mortgages, including by creating and submitting fabricated bank statements so that the Company\\u2019s clients appeared to meet the lenders\\u2019 criteria for a modification. Clients of the mortgage modification business operated by BARRON, AHIGA, and others paid over approximately $15 million for mortgage modification services, and a number of those clients\\u2019 homes went into foreclosure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESOLIS BARRON, 63, of La Habra Heights, California, and AHIGA, 56, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec5d39d84a4de11b601230de288ff8684\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the\\u0026nbsp;Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:21:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963718\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:10:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963009\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-252\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Individuals Charged In Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Modification Scheme\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/two-individuals-charged-multimillion-dollar-mortgage-modification-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"0088b663-5338-41b8-827e-a928d3aed37e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictments, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdwin Aldana\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a separate indictment, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EKevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:37:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975453\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975081\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-91\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ri\\/pr\\/federal-grand-jury-indicts-two-men-illegal-reentry-united-states\",\"uuid\":\"439f62c4-ffee-455d-9f7f-cb523d22c6f3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cI am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Rhode Island United States Attorney\\u2019s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. City of Pawtucket et al.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s website at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:32:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971544\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"e587e060-7060-40d3-a133-fa686fd8a043\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Voting Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:53:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1032\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"},{\"uuid\":\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\",\"name\":\"Voting and Elections\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-conduct-election-monitoring-rhode-island-primary-election\",\"uuid\":\"75930653-0d55-4691-9876-033e4bdab558\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERUTLAND \\u2013 The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 8, 2026, Todd Hoyte, 55, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier scheduled a hearing on December 3, 2026, to determine any restitution that Hoyte owes as part of his sentence. Previously, Hoyte pleaded guilty to making interstate threats and cyberstalking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between July 29, 2024, and September 25, 2024, in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats, Hoyte, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, placed more than 10 cellphone calls to Vermont, during which he left voicemails for Grand Isle County State\\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito. These voicemails included a threat on DiSabito\\u2019s life as well as insults, slurs, and derogatory language against DiSabito. At the time, DiSabito was prosecuting Hoyte for a criminal offense. In pleading guilty, Hoyte admitted that he made communications to harass and intimidate DiSabito as well as for the purpose of issuing a threat and with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat to DiSabito.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Hoyte was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:01:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:58:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"U.S. Virgin Islands Man Sentenced For Making Interstate Threats and Stalking\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/us-virgin-islands-man-sentenced-making-interstate-threats-and-stalking\",\"uuid\":\"937304d3-fafe-464d-9594-9549359d226d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959768\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959085\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis serial felon\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957073\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\",\"uuid\":\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDALLAS \\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi\\u2011state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Esentenced Dian Huang Jiang, aka \\u201cDanny Jiang,\\u201d to 60 months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDrug traffickers who exploit interstate networks to pump poison into our communities will be met with the full force of federal prosecution,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cMr. Jiang built a sprawling, multi\\u2011state drug enterprise that pushed thousands of kilograms of marijuana and funneled millions of dollars in proceeds through criminal channels. The Homeland Security Task Force unraveled that operation piece by piece, and today\\u2019s sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that threaten public safety.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case sends a clear message; drug traffickers do not get a free pass simply because marijuana laws vary from state to state\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. \\u201cMr. Jiang moved large quantities of marijuana across state lines and supplied dangerous criminals who fuel violence and threaten our communities.\\u0026nbsp; We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle networks and prevent drug proceeds from strengthening criminal organizations.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jiang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. From at least January 2020 through August 2023, Jiang led a large\\u2011scale distribution network responsible for moving marijuana from Oklahoma to customers across Texas and multiple other states. Jiang routinely used cellular telephones to coordinate marijuana deliveries, negotiate pricing and direct customers where to drop off large quantities of U.S. currency as payment for drug shipments.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records show Jiang acquired multi\\u2011ton quantities of marijuana, often distributing up to 1,000 pounds in a single day, and required customers to purchase between 20 and 300 pounds per transaction. He utilized multiple residences in Oklahoma and Texas to store, distribute and collect proceeds from the illegal drug enterprise. As part of the conspiracy, Jiang and his coconspirators transported drug proceeds between states, sometimes sending substantial amounts overseas to include the People\\u2019s Republic of China. On Aug. 8, 2023, federal agents seized more than $2.8 million from bank accounts and safe deposit boxes linked to Jiang\\u2019s operation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the prison term, Jiang faces forfeiture of several residential properties used in the drug\\u2011trafficking operation as well as more than $4 million in drug proceeds traced by investigators.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration \\u2013 Dallas conducted the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Oklahoma City), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Oklahoma, and the City of Mesquite Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Lo Galbo and Rick Calvert prosecuted the case with assistance from AUSAs Phelesa Guy and Jonathan Penn.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and other local law enforcement entities.\\u0026nbsp; The prosecution was led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975079\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:27:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788974831\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi\\u2011state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dallas man who conspired to use interstate facilities to aid a marijuana trafficking enterprise sentenced in Homeland Security Task Force investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/dallas-man-who-conspired-use-interstate-facilities-aid-marijuana-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"9daa50bb-1eef-4c47-ae07-6519490771a4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.\\u0026nbsp;The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIf Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\u201cMy Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, run on Telegram, where vendors market their services to scam center operators. The Telegram channel operated primarily in Chinese, and the vendors post their available services on the Telegram channel, to include creating custom scam investment websites, laundering or \\u201cwashing\\u201d money that scammers obtain from victims of wire fraud, and soliciting trafficking victims to work in scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Once a scammer \\u201cpurchases\\u201d a service from the vendor, Xinbi as an organization holds money to be paid to the vendor until the vendors services are complete, to assure the scammers that the vendors will perform the services.\\u0026nbsp; The seizure warrant alleged numerous instances where U.S. victims funds were traced to specific vendors who advertised their money laundering services on the Telegram channel, and posted cryptocurrency wallets for payment on Telegram. On September 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia authorized seizure of the Telegram channels hosting this marketplace.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460531\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_1.png?itok=09_8fNvh\\u0022 width=\\u0022766\\u0022 height=\\u0022386\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with typed message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on the Telegram channel for \\u201ccleaning\\u201d cryptocurrency for Chinese RMB.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460541\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_2.png?itok=R2Zy8I-9\\u0022 width=\\u0022789\\u0022 height=\\u0022831\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on Telegram for recruiting scammer (\\u201cLevel 1\\u201d) agents.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, also pursuant to the same warrant, the Scam Center Strike Force seized two cryptocurrency wallets that Xinbi used to collect payments for vendors, which collectively held approximately $12 million in funds. Law enforcement also sought restraint of 47 additional cryptocurrency wallets that were believed to be associated with money laundering on Xinbi\\u2019s network and with vendors who had worked for scammers. Due to all these coordinated efforts, more than $52 million\\u0026nbsp;worth of cryptocurrency was restrained from Xinbi and its network of vendors that facilitate the organized crime groups running scam centers around the globe. The Strike Force thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, in further coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization and identified numerous cryptocurrency wallets associated with Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; OFAC also designated two other entities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; As a result of today\\u2019s action by OFAC, all property and interests in property of these three sanctioned entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury\\u2019s press release at this link.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAfter scamming money from hardworking Americans, criminals operating overseas laundered it through the Xinbi Guarantee network, which operated under the false assumption that they were out of the reach of U.S. law enforcement, said Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. \\u201cThe efforts of our agents and investigative analysts to trace stolen funds and unveil the scope of this criminal network shows that while the methods of fraud may change, our resolve does not.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cGlobal crime faces global justice, and the FBI will stop at nothing to protect the finances that hardworking Americans build over their lifetimes,\\u201d said FBI Chicago Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. \\u201cToday\\u2019s seizure demonstrates law enforcement and prosecutors\\u2019 commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling scam centers, no matter where they are in the world. The FBI is committed to working with domestic and international partners around the globe to stop scammers before they attack and hold these criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cScam centers are not just criminal enterprises\\u2014they are engines of exploitation that devastate victims, families, and communities,\\u0022 said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. \\u0022 These schemes target our elderly and most vulnerable, draining their finances, eroding their trust, and in many cases leaving lasting emotional harm. The FBI is committed to dismantling these networks, holding offenders accountable, and restoring a sense of security to the communities they prey upon.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlso today, U.S. Attorney Pirro announced that the Scam Center Strike Force will expand its scope to attack scam center compounds globally. In furtherance of that expanded focus, U.S. Attorney Pirro, together with U.S. Attorney Heyman and FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, announced that the Strike Force had deployed a team to Madagascar to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on scam centers in that country. The Strike Force team, which was in country for two weeks, supported the local authorities related to the take down of 13 scam centers that were being operated by Chinese organized crime syndicates. The Strike Force team assisted in the processing of more than 3,200 electronic devices. The Strike Force team has also opened their own investigations on the basis of interviews conducted of the nearly 400 arrestees, at least approximately 30 of whom where Chinese leaders of the scam compounds, who were repatriated to China by the Chinese government.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Transnational criminal organizations don\\u2019t care about borders, and the Department of Justice won\\u2019t either,\\u201d said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.\\u0026nbsp; We are proud to be part of the Scam Center Strike Force and will work to eliminate these international scam networks and bring justice to U.S. fraud victims across the country.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460546\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_3.jpg?itok=47xCRnm6\\u0022 width=\\u0022485\\u0022 height=\\u0022646\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Boxes of phones from Chinese run compounds in Madagascar, reviewed by the Strike Force\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460551\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\u0022 width=\\u00221430\\u0022 height=\\u00221073\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\/we\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\u0026amp;muv=1\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\u0026amp;cac=1\\u0026amp;sams=1\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\u0026amp;hch=1\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Csup\\u003E[1]\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\u2019s Order.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788964120\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alaska\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460531\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with typed message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460541\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460546\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460551\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of room full of monitors\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\",\"name\":\"Cybercrime\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\",\"uuid\":\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\u201ctimknight444,\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant results for Knight\\u2019s Instagram account and collected two J-Pay tablets at Central State Prison. One tablet was found in Knight\\u2019s locker and had been altered but did not contain CSAM. Investigators found the second tablet with Knight when they confiscated it. Investigators confirmed that the tablet was altered and that it contained CSAM. Also, the device contained Google search histories for information on abusing, trafficking, and raping children. Investigators found 3,410 unique artifacts of CSAM material that include images of prepubescent children. Most images came from five different video series.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Brown and Julius Jefferson are prosecuting the case for the Government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975784\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:41:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975664\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"State Inmate with Child Sexual Abuse Material Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdga\\/pr\\/state-inmate-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"9b7861e6-d832-48a0-9103-ef51184b8c64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 5, 2025, the Buffalo Police Department, ATF and FBI executed a search warrant at Carter\\u2019s Jackson Avenue residence in Sloan, during which they seized two loaded pistols and approximately 25 pounds of suspected marijuana. Carter was convicted of felony charges in January 2010, in Erie County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:11:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995482\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:07:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges\",\"uuid\":\"c903a18b-d277-4668-824e-e3b2e52b722c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cI appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cI am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as \\u2018a shining star at the Department of Justice.\\u2019 Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460506\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-141.jpg?itok=E6H6z9Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221846\\u0022 height=\\u00221235\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office\\u2019s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys\\u2019 Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460511\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-124.jpg?itok=hnRliz5p\\u0022 width=\\u00221858\\u0022 height=\\u00221238\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460516\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-115.jpg?itok=TRij08Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221827\\u0022 height=\\u00221211\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys\\u2019 oath of office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460526\\u0022\\u003E\\n  \\n      \\n  \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E  \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-dsc03904.jpg?itok=DZNyCj0k\\u0022 width=\\u00221773\\u0022 height=\\u00221175\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n    \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n      \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003ESince mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)\\u2014setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices, district attorney\\u2019s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Adams\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAnita Balasubramanian\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJamie Bircoll\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation \\u0026amp; Trial Practice Associate at Alston \\u0026amp; Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Cespedes\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMelissa Cheape\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKassi Conley\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section.\\u0026nbsp;She worked as a Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBernard Eyth\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDaniel Grill\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham \\u0026amp; Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESteve Hsieh\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENicholas Joy\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENathaniel Lancaster\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb \\u0026amp; Tyler and clerked for\\u0026nbsp;Judge Myrna P\\u00e9rez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Letzring\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of North Carolina and clerked for Judge Phyllis Kravitch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten, Sr. of the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Emory University School of Law and Davidson College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESara Lim\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the Middle District of Georgia and clerked for U.S. District Judge Louis Sands of the Middle District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law\\u0026nbsp;and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonell Lucca\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as an Associate Director for Prosecutorial Operations at the OCDETF Executive Office after serving as an AUSA in two districts and clerking for Justice Wayne Kidwell of the Idaho Supreme Court. She attended University of Notre Dame Law School and Arizona State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJulia Martin\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the DeKalb County District Attorney\\u2019s Office and worked as an Associate with Greenberg Traurig. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECole McFerren\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChristopher Meredith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant Chief Counsel with Immigration \\u0026amp; Customs Enforcement. He attended Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJames Murray\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department and clerked for U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger of the Middle District of Florida and U.S. Magistrate Judge Daryl Bloom in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He attended Cornell Law School and the State University of New York at Geneseo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAndrew Navratil\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Bureau of Prisons attorney serving as a Civil Division SAUSA. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen in the Northern District of Georgia and attended Georgia State University College of Law and Carleton College.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERebecca Perez-Espejo\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis an Immigration \\u0026amp; Customs Enforcement attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Training Section of the Criminal Division. She attended the Emory University School of Law and the University of Central Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdward Robinson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as an AUSA in the Southern District of New York and clerked for U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter of the Southern District of New York. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKendall Runyan\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She worked as a Business \\u0026amp; Securities Litigation Associate at Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKaitlyn Salinas\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant\\u0026nbsp;Attorney General\\u0026nbsp;in\\u0026nbsp;the Georgia Attorney General\\u2019s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EStephen Scaife\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAmy Schwarzl\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERobert Shapiro\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law\\u0026nbsp;and Piedmont University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Silloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a\\u0026nbsp;Counsel at Balch \\u0026amp; Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He\\u0026nbsp;attended Mercer University School of\\u0026nbsp;Law and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlexa Simonini\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard \\u0026amp; Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChloe Smith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. She worked as\\u0026nbsp;Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate\\u0026nbsp;at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAdam Sunstrom\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Suter\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division and as the Department\\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an\\u0026nbsp;AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKatie Taylor\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis \\u0026amp; Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDrew Waldbeser\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EConor Woods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:15:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788966955\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959935\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460506\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b14b1127-5ee4-4f86-ae24-51c245f1393c\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460511\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"43d86eec-7140-40a9-ae8d-0836f6d4f6d7\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460516\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"56e24643-27aa-443a-a101-fdc78dc56798\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460521\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"ce7f8675-b995-4d6f-909b-de34876708bd\"},\"alt\":\"ATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460526\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"cbc59f3e-fc92-475f-9ae5-0b46b36a4d62\"},\"alt\":\"USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/attorney-general-todd-blanche-celebrates-prosecutorial-successes-and-record-setting\",\"uuid\":\"7a64cf38-a160-4e08-b947-18a0ba3cf6f6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJiemaliahl Cleveland, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 23, 2025, Cleveland possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Colville scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cleveland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:10:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973842\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973773\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/sharon-resident-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"ba3a7e38-4d78-4086-b524-6191825ad1d0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHOUSTON \\u2013 A 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAuthorities have now taken Alla Nowowiejski into custody. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett at 2 p.m. today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients to assist them with establishing or adjusting their work status and applying for work visas. However, she allegedly never submitted the applications or only submitted them in part.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment further alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents or reference numbers associated with active immigration cases unrelated to her clients. She allegedly used the documents and reference number to make the clients believe immigration authorities were processing their applications.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Homeland Security \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service \\u2013 OIG conducted the investigation with assistance of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Harris County Constable\\u2019s Office - Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice has created the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/opa\\/pr\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-1.govdelivery.com\\/cl0\\/https:%2f%2fwww.justice.gov%2fopa%2fpr%2facting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement%3futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery\\/1\\/0100019d6f561d1d-a5ad8fc3-ccfc-4d37-a8ed-\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022node\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u0022e6ae8384-0ce7-4217-8137-6de5cc8173ad\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022canonical\\u0022\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement\\u0026nbsp;Division\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:04:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077845\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788998760\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Immigration attorney arrested in alleged fraud scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/immigration-attorney-arrested-alleged-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"d0a1b5a1-2f8a-4a33-a5d8-a3aeea64ea41\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E plead guilty on May 29, 2026, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1347, and was sentenced to ten years in prison on October 23, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained fraudulent doctors\\u2019 orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries\\u2019 treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;submitted over $174\\u0026nbsp;million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55\\u0026nbsp;million in reimbursements.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBefore \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was indicted, law enforcement officers seized several of his assets that had been purchased with the proceeds of his scheme. In its recent order, the Court ordered the forfeiture of the contents of an investment account and a bank account held in the name of a company controlled by \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, along with three vehicles purchased with proceeds of the offense, namely, a Land Rover Range Rover, a BMW, and a Ford F-150. In total, the forfeited accounts contained a value totaling approximately $7,051,089.08.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAsset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that allows the United States to take property derived from, or used to commit, federal crimes. It is designed to strip criminals of the proceeds of their offenses, remove the instruments used to carry them out, and- where victims can be identified- return recovered funds to the people who were harmed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of\\u0026nbsp;the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, handled the forfeiture component.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995545\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994977\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of Approximately $7 Million and Three Vehicles Following Conviction of Jamie P. McNamara\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/federal-court-orders-forfeiture-approximately-7-million-and-three-vehicles-following\",\"uuid\":\"3de0624c-5732-4481-ac73-96d37a2b6035\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBerkeley Law School\\u2019s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court\\u2019s decision in \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cThe Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTitle VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,\\u201d said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. \\u201cThe Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today\\u2019s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department\\u2019s investigation found that post-\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley\\u2019s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be \\u201cgrouped\\u201d with others of the same \\u201cprimary identity\\u201d in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias \\u003Cem\\u003Eagainst\\u003C\\/em\\u003E Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law\\u2019s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department\\u2019s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u2019s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school\\u2019s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMembers of the public may report possible civil rights violations at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ewww.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENote\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Read the Department\\u2019s Findings Letter \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/crt\\/media\\/1460556\\/dl\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981025\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\",\"name\":\"Civil Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"781c38e6-513e-4ab2-9590-0ff78dc743a5\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Educational Opportunities Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:36:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971776\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1033\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\",\"uuid\":\"619b3f3a-4973-45f0-aa49-c02eb29eaa82\"}]}",
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Tool Progress E0063

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Tool Result E0064

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":9},\"executionTime\":2.581575870513916},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJackson, TN \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA federal judge has sentenced \\u003Cstrong\\u003ETimothy Adams, 55\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp; United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on February 2, 2024, Dyer County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 hang up call.\\u0026nbsp; Upon arrival, they encountered Adams hiding behind a shed.\\u0026nbsp; It was determined through the investigation that Adams picked up a .38 revolver from the house and fired one round into the headboard near another occupant of the residence during a domestic violence incident.\\u0026nbsp; Officers confirmed the bullet hole in the headboard and recovered one spent shell casing from the .38 revolver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn January 22, 2025, Adams pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Due to his extensive prior criminal conviction history which includes prior violent and serious drug offenses, the Court determined that Adams qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), resulting in enhanced mandatory minimum sentencing penalties.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn August 19, 2026, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Adams to 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, \\u201cAdams\\u2019 prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law, and his lifestyle of lawlessness has finally caught up with him. He has devoted most of his life to repeated criminal conduct, and now the federal system will do what should have been done a long time ago \\u2013 impose a real consequence that will prevent him from victimizing anyone else for years to come.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham, who prosecuted this case in conjunction with Assistant District Attorney General Andrew Hays, of the Tennessee District Attorney\\u2019s Office for the 29\\u003Csup\\u003Eth\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;Judicial District, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EUSATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. Follow the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\/CL0\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2Fa9UhD2Prx8nIY-6djnGphQDbShTcuPoA1ztwg7nk7Fg=429\\/1\\/010101a087425887-d39a0ace-81d5-443d-90b4-94f9f9751545-000000\\/w_waT0DeB4wH-0KW5MzwPHbqOzQ-gde1skaVVR5iuw8=452\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Eon Facebook\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\/CL0\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fprotect2.fireeye.com%252Fv1%252Furl%253Fk=1ccf5694-7982ef19-1cc87271-74fe48680e18-429ea4c66a6734da%2526q=1%2526e=160013ce-d024-44a4-8061-4f5534e7d3ee%2526u=https%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwitter.com%25252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2FamSIP6DtqegVIpgurWZC34y6s_PeEiF-k7QfKo-xkgA=429\\/1\\/010101a087425887-d39a0ace-81d5-443d-90b4-94f9f9751545-000000\\/IHDCbiY67kiXNKdzMzwbjd4XU0RLVWTgmdwcfpS3n7w=452\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Eon X\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:34:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788982459\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"09ab4078-eaac-4d82-8ebf-cf84fb74f272\",\"name\":\"USAO - Tennessee, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975831\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJackson, TN \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA federal judge has sentenced \\u003Cstrong\\u003ETimothy Adams, 55\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp; United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on February 2, 2024, Dyer County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 hang up call.\\u0026nbsp; Upon arrival, they encountered...\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dyer County Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession and Discharge of a Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtn\\/pr\\/dyer-county-armed-career-criminal-sentenced-15-years-prison-illegal-possession-and\",\"uuid\":\"acafc9b9-d79f-4c79-8db0-c1542220c438\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBerkeley Law School\\u2019s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court\\u2019s decision in \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cThe Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTitle VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,\\u201d said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. \\u201cThe Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today\\u2019s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department\\u2019s investigation found that post-\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley\\u2019s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be \\u201cgrouped\\u201d with others of the same \\u201cprimary identity\\u201d in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias \\u003Cem\\u003Eagainst\\u003C\\/em\\u003E Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law\\u2019s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department\\u2019s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u2019s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school\\u2019s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMembers of the public may report possible civil rights violations at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ewww.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENote\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Read the Department\\u2019s Findings Letter \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/crt\\/media\\/1460556\\/dl\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981025\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\",\"name\":\"Civil Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"781c38e6-513e-4ab2-9590-0ff78dc743a5\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Educational Opportunities Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:36:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971776\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1033\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\",\"uuid\":\"619b3f3a-4973-45f0-aa49-c02eb29eaa82\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBROWNSVILLE, Texas \\u2013 A 29-year-old woman has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaura Janette Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 21, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 25 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation began in early 2024 when authorities identified Edgar Alejandro Villarreal, a\\/k\\/a Fresa, as a large-scale cocaine trafficker coordinating the smuggling, transportation, and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring surveillance operations April 16, 2024, law enforcement observed Gonzalez and others arrive at a Weslaco parking lot in a Chevrolet Equinox to deliver narcotics. After spotting authorities, they fled.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAuthorities conducted a traffic stop resulted in the discovery of a gift-wrapped box containing approximately 8.8 kilograms of cocaine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation revealed Villarreal and Edith Gonzalez, Laura Janette Gonzalez\\u2019s sister, coordinated the shipment that Laura Janette Gonzalez was to deliver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBoth Villarreal, 38, Brownsville, and Edith Gonzalez, 45, Donna, pleaded guilty. Edith Gonzalez received a 78-month-term, while Villarreal is scheduled to be sentenced Oct 21.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaura Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF South Texas\\/Houston comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol\\/Department of State; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBrownsville Police Department also assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:32:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789000346\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:27:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789000025\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 29-year-old woman has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Second cocaine trafficker receives prison sentence in Homeland Security Task Force investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/second-cocaine-trafficker-receives-prison-sentence-homeland-security-task-force\",\"uuid\":\"a3f1e78f-094e-4fe9-9182-539ceaa2899c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $178,746,556 in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall pleaded guilty on April 7 to one count of wire fraud committed while on release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\u201cToday\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\u2019s our department\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal hundreds of millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\u2019s neediest residents,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent permissible under the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers,\\u201d aid Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u201cStealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system. HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe amount of money Paul Randall stole from California taxpayers through his fraud scheme is staggering,\\u201d said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\u201cBy exploiting a loophole in the Medi-Cal system, he was able to bill nearly $270 million dollars, then launder it to evade detection and pay kickbacks to his co-schemers. Today\\u2019s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone considering defrauding health care benefit programs that the federal government is actively seeking fraudulent claims and will pursue prosecution.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall, along with Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, and Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain health care services or medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirements was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMedi-Cal is California\\u2019s Medicaid program, a public health insurance program which provides health care services for the state\\u2019s neediest residents, including low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, and individuals in foster care.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy, Randall and his co-schemers exploited Medi-Cal\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursement, non-contracted, generic drugs through Monte Vista Pharmacy. Some prescription medications purportedly were to treat pain and included Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENormally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\u2019s old payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently was not dispensed to patients, and procured by kickbacks.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Monte Vista billed Medi-Cal more than $269 million and was paid more than $178 million for 19 expensive, non-contracted drugs containing low-cost, generic ingredients that were not medically necessary, not provided, or both.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall also admitted that he committed the offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\u003Cem\\u003EUSA v. Paul Richard Randall,\\u003C\\/em\\u003E No. 20cr31).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall and others then laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring the proceeds of the Medi-Cal fraud scheme to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to Anderson, to promote the fraud scheme and to conceal and disguise the transfers from detection by law enforcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall caused the wiring of at least approximately $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for purportedly dispensing the fraud scheme medications that Anderson prescribed, on which Medi-Cal paid at least approximately $178,746,556.\\u0026nbsp; Randall started this fraud scheme while awaiting sentencing in another federal criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven properties, and sports memorabilia, such as Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson baseball cards worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and Kobe Bryant game worn and signed sneakers.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMekail pleaded guilty in August 2024 to two counts of health care fraud and awaits sentencing. Anderson is charged with two counts of health care fraud, and the criminal case against her is still pending.\\u0026nbsp; A criminal complaint was filed against Christina Mareik, a.k.a. \\u201cChristina Marie Sanchez Hernandez\\u201d, charging her with health care fraud and alleging that she played a key role in the Medi-Cal fraud scheme by creating fraudulent prescriptions for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and directing Anderson to sign them. The case against Hernandez is still pending.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the U.S. Department of Justice, Fraud Enforcement Division, are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMore information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/fraud\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/fraud\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:44:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788979489\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:39:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788979190\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-154\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Orange County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Orchestrating Massive Health Care Fraud that Submitted Nearly $270 Million in Bogus Claims\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/orange-county-man-sentenced-30-years-federal-prison-orchestrating-massive-health-care\",\"uuid\":\"6a7e5bd4-59c1-47ce-9647-2dd6e9e8baca\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictments, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdwin Aldana\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a separate indictment, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EKevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:37:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975453\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975081\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-91\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ri\\/pr\\/federal-grand-jury-indicts-two-men-illegal-reentry-united-states\",\"uuid\":\"439f62c4-ffee-455d-9f7f-cb523d22c6f3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959768\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959085\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERUTLAND \\u2013 The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 8, 2026, Todd Hoyte, 55, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier scheduled a hearing on December 3, 2026, to determine any restitution that Hoyte owes as part of his sentence. Previously, Hoyte pleaded guilty to making interstate threats and cyberstalking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between July 29, 2024, and September 25, 2024, in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats, Hoyte, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, placed more than 10 cellphone calls to Vermont, during which he left voicemails for Grand Isle County State\\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito. These voicemails included a threat on DiSabito\\u2019s life as well as insults, slurs, and derogatory language against DiSabito. At the time, DiSabito was prosecuting Hoyte for a criminal offense. In pleading guilty, Hoyte admitted that he made communications to harass and intimidate DiSabito as well as for the purpose of issuing a threat and with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat to DiSabito.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Hoyte was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:01:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:58:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"U.S. Virgin Islands Man Sentenced For Making Interstate Threats and Stalking\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/us-virgin-islands-man-sentenced-making-interstate-threats-and-stalking\",\"uuid\":\"937304d3-fafe-464d-9594-9549359d226d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis serial felon\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957073\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\",\"uuid\":\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPLANO, Texas \\u2013 Two Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, Chinese citizens, were charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with drug trafficking and money laundering violations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn May, Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville, and Judy Ly, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtx\\/pr\\/lewisville-man-michigan-woman-indicted-eastern-district-texas-synthetic-drug-scheme\\u0022\\u003Eindicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in the same conspiracy.\\u0026nbsp; All four defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess contraband in prison; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.\\u0026nbsp; Willis was also charged with possession of synthetic drugs with intent to distribute.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment alleges that a China\\u2011based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States for distribution across the country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cWe will continue working with our Homeland Security Task Force partners to pursue and hold accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs into our country.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Homeland Security Task Force was established by President Trump\\u2019s executive order to protect Americans from illegal drug activity infesting our communities,\\u201d said FBI Director Kash Patel. \\u201cThis FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to identify, find, and arrest these criminals who bring drugs to our streets. These two Chinese nationals allegedly trafficked dangerous, synthetic drugs from China into the United States and smuggled them into our prison systems for illicit gain. This HSTF investigation is yet another example, among thousands, of our task forces working throughout the country, every day, to make it safer for everyone. Thank you to FBI Dallas and our great law enforcement partners across the interagency who worked this investigation with us.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s announcement underscores DEA\\u2019s commitment to attack the entire synthetic drug supply chain and trace these deadly substances back to their source. This investigation led us to China, and thanks to the cooperation of Chinese law enforcement, two Chinese nationals are now in custody and will face justice for their role in supplying dangerous drugs destined for Americans,\\u201d said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. \\u201cDEA\\u2019s global reach and chemical precursor expertise are unmatched. We are proud to bring those capabilities to the Homeland Security Task Force as we work together to identify these networks, dismantle their supply chains, and build landmark cases.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that beginning in March 2023, the defendants conspired to possess synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants, and other controlled analogues, in correctional institutions.\\u0026nbsp; It is alleged in the indictment that Willis purchased synthetic drugs from Xing and Song in China and had them shipped to his residence in the Eastern District of Texas and Ly\\u2019s residence in Michigan.\\u0026nbsp; It is also alleged that once Willis and Ly received the synthetic drugs, they would convert the drugs to a liquid before soaking sheets of paper in the drug mixture.\\u0026nbsp; Once the sheets of paper were saturated, they were then delivered to inmates at various federal and state correctional institutions across the country.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChina\\u2019s Ministry of Public Security arrested\\u0026nbsp;Xing, Song, and 19 co-conspirators, seized 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, and shutdown four illicit manufacturing sites in China. The FBI-MPS counternarcotics working group, established in January 2026, facilitated the collaborative efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal network.\\u0026nbsp;These results represent a major milestone in U.S.\\u2013China counternarcotics cooperation and underscore the effectiveness of sustained, structured coordination between both countries in addressing the international illicit chemical supply chain.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;case is\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.\\u0026nbsp; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:05:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973502\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:22:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788970942\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chinese nationals arrested in China as Homeland Security Task Force works to stop drugs imported through the Eastern District of Texas destined for U.S. prisons\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtx\\/pr\\/chinese-nationals-arrested-china-homeland-security-task-force-works-stop-drugs\",\"uuid\":\"802571be-235e-460d-8a1c-4239e6cfba14\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESAVANNAH, Georgia:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAn Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe\\u0026nbsp;sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETorrence Veal\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 37, of Ellabell, Georgia, was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and testimony, Veal was found in possession of a Glock, Model 48, 9 mm pistol in Chatham County in December 2024. Police officers with the Chatham County Police Department responded to a shooting at a Motel 6 in Savannah where officers learned that an altercation between Veal and an employee of the motel had occurred.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the initial altercation, Veal left and later returned, located the employee in the parking lot and fired the weapon multiple times in the employee\\u2019s direction. Veal then discarded the firearm before fleeing the scene. A Chatham County firearm detection K-9 officer was dispatched to the location and a search of the area resulted in the firearm being discovered in a nearby gutter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EInvestigators later determined the firearm was stolen. Veal\\u2019s lengthy criminal history includes prior convictions for aggravated assault.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis significant sentence is a reminder that illegally possessing a firearm is a serious offense,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cIllegally possessed firearms are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWithin minutes of this crime occurring, Chatham County Police Department patrol officers, detectives, and forensic specialists were on the scene to interview witnesses and gather the crucial evidence needed to make an arrest,\\u201d said Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley. \\u201cWe are proud to partner with federal authorities in bringing repeat offenders to justice and keeping the streets of our county safe for everyone.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chatham County Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:52:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788976357\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:35:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975311\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"87-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Felon in possession of a firearm sentenced to nine years in prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/felon-possession-firearm-sentenced-nine-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"3431cd6b-3244-44ee-8b70-769c554fe22d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\u201cPRDT\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\u201cgestors\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT\\u2019s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax\\/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed.\\u0026nbsp; The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGuilty Plea\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentencing Date\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAmount of Loss\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E7\\/20\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E10\\/9\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$665,639.74\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[3] C\\u00e9sar Rodr\\u00edguez-Nieves\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$852,487.91\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[4] 24 Marketplace, Inc.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$35,125.84\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[5] A La Silla LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$205,514.32\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[6] RB Marketplace, Inc.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/17\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$154,728.92\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/11\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$526,263.67\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[8] L\\u00edneas de Puerto Rico, Inc.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/11\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$393,408.91\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[9] H\\u00e9ctor J. Baerga-Ortiz\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/31\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$1,833,983.81\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[10] H\\u00edjole Foods Bistro Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/31\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$447,241.14\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[11] HVP Foods Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/31\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$564,545.29\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[12] BBB Food, Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E9\\/1\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$386,483.84\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[13] BHV Food, Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E9\\/1\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$225,340.52\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[14] VHB Foods Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E9\\/1\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/14\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$131,461.02\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[15] Carlos A. Rodr\\u00edguez-Ortiz\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E7\\/7\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E10\\/2\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$33,660.53\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp.\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/10\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E11\\/6\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$33,660.53\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/4\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$193,577.03\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/3\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E11\\/6\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$437,785.06\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[22] Gabrielle L\\u00f3pez-Berr\\u00edos\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E7\\/20\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E10\\/16\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$36,138.55\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[23] G Fitness \\u0026amp; Body Performance LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/19\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$17,309.55\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[24] Veevo LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/19\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/18\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$1,642\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[25] Patria Silfa-B\\u00e1ez\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/25\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/22\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$47,209.44\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:291px;\\u0022\\u003E[26] Print Pro LLC\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:96px;\\u0022\\u003E8\\/25\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:126px;\\u0022\\u003E12\\/22\\/2026\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:124px;\\u0022\\u003E$44,630.33\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin G\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. G\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Mar\\u00eda Antongiorgi-Jord\\u00e1n.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EActing U.S. Attorney H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico\\u2019s Financial Fraud \\u0026amp; Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/twenty-six-individuals-and-companies-indicted-puerto-rico-tax-debt-scheme-involving-over\\u0022\\u003Ethe indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, the July 2, 2026 \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/hacienda-employee-pleads-guilty-bribery-conspiracy-involving-loss-5-million\\u0022\\u003Eguilty plea of Luis A. Jim\\u00e9nez-Guzm\\u00e1n\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/hacienda-employee-and-business-owner-plead-guilty-wire-fraud-conspiracy-involving-loss\\u0022\\u003Eguilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:29:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956974\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Puerto Rico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:17:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956260\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2026-096\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\u201cPRDT\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\u201cgestors\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/additional-hacienda-employee-and-business-owners-plead-guilty-bribery-conspiracies\",\"uuid\":\"6c4442ff-37a1-4b48-8809-0813101a5bc5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man is facing federal indictment in connection with child sex abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert Paul Miller, III, 35, of West Friendship, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possessing CSAM.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Miller distributed videos depicting adults sexually abusing minors. Miller also maintained a Dropbox storage account, associated with his email address, that contained one or more CSAM visual depictions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is not a finding of guilt.\\u0026nbsp;Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Miller faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for distributing CSAM.\\u0026nbsp;Miller also faces a maximum of 10 years for possessing CSAM.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EActual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.\\u0026nbsp; A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and HCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:26:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981985\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:23:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981826\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man is facing federal indictment in connection with child sex abuse crimes. \\u0026nbsp;Robert Paul Miller, III, 35, of West Friendship, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possessing CSAM.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Indicted on Distribution and Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material Charges \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/man-indicted-distribution-and-possession-child-sex-abuse-material-charges\",\"uuid\":\"8aa007e2-1440-4260-acce-0633cede2b39\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California\\u2019s history.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\u2019s most vulnerable residents,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\u201cHHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. \\u201cToday\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\u2019s our department\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\u2019s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Paul Richard Randall\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, No. CR 20-00031-GW).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMore information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/fraud\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/fraud\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:25:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981901\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:12:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981146\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1035\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"8f0bf01d-a76e-49d6-884a-ce46e8e96164\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E*** Video of the press conference is available on the YouTube channel of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao\\/wvs\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E for the Southern District of West Virginia: \\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.youtube.com\\/watch?v=AYa0R7zLolo\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.youtube.com\\/watch?v=AYa0R7zLolo\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E. ***\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;United States Attorney Moore Capito joined with U.S. Marshal Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police Colonel James Mitchell, and other law enforcement partners today to announce the success of \\u201cOperation Coal Country.\\u201d The multi-week enforcement initiative targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, violent fugitives, and other wanted individuals throughout\\u0026nbsp;the Southern District of\\u0026nbsp;West Virginia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe 59 individuals arrested during the operation, which began August 13, 2026, and concluded last week, include 16 convicted sex offenders wanted on registration violations and 10 individuals charged with new sex offenses. The West Virginia State Police conducted over 380 compliance checks of registered sex offenders as part of Operation Coal Country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cEach arrest resulting from these targeted enforcement operations protects our communities and makes them safer,\\u201d said United States Attorney Moore Capito. \\u201cThe success of this operation continues the momentum we\\u2019ve created through dedicated, collaborative, and aggressive efforts with our law enforcement partners.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThose arrested during Operation Coal Country include Clinton G. McNeely, 31, of Lyburn. A federal grand jury indicted McNeely on August 18, 2026, on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of production of obscene material.\\u0026nbsp;McNeely was arrested on August 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo convicted sex offenders were indicted as part of Operation Coal Country after allegedly violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, SORNA provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmong the other individuals arrested during Operation Coal Country, five face federal drug charges, three allegedly violated federal supervised release, and two allegedly violated terms of\\u0026nbsp;their federal pretrial release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOperation Coal Country focused heavily on sex offender compliance and fugitive apprehension throughout the West Virginia State Police Troop 5 area of Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne counties. Several of those arrested face charges in additional counties within the Southern District of West Virginia. Those arrested also include a fugitive wanted for murder in Florida who was captured in Dunbar, and a suspect in the sexual abuse of a female juvenile family member in Parkersburg who was arrested in Arizona. Participating law enforcement also found a missing child after an alleged parental abduction in Wood County.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe operation brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement resources in a coordinated effort to locate and apprehend fugitives while also conducting enforcement activities involving registered sex offenders. Investigators worked to identify registered sex offenders who were not complying with state and federal registration requirements and to locate individuals wanted for crimes involving sexual offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOfficers also seized 75.1 grams of fentanyl, 1.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, 33.3 grams of cocaine, approximately $6,000, one firearm, and assorted ammunition.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe success of Operation Coal Country demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combine their resources toward a common mission,\\u201d said\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Marshal\\u0026nbsp;Jack Chambers. \\u201cFifty-nine arrests over the course of this operation means 59 wanted individuals were located and taken into custody. More importantly, this operation placed a significant emphasis on protecting our communities from individuals who have committed sex offenses or failed to comply with their registration requirements. The U.S. Marshals Service and West Virginia State Police will continue working together to investigate noncompliant sex offenders and apprehend dangerous fugitives throughout southern West Virginia.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhen law enforcement works together, criminals have fewer places to hide,\\u201d said Colonel James Mitchell, superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. \\u201cOperation Coal Country shows the power of a coordinated, proactive approach to protecting our communities and holding offenders accountable. The West Virginia State Police is proud to stand with the U.S. Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in doing everything we can to keep the people of West Virginia safe.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Southern District of West Virginia Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force and the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) led Operation Coal Country in partnership with numerous other law enforcement organizations:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e932b7574d7c49d3666ab6f589bdacda3\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e8b78ccedc9beead774a1f3abff843b21\\u0022\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e34c9701f642db3bb3c3c3dbbe6039a4f\\u0022\\u003ENational Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb85b0835c9a2ecd81ec07520467224a8\\u0022\\u003EWVSP Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e9a8f19fdc45cbfdd661c9794fdc6d925\\u0022\\u003EWVSP Sex Offender Registry\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ebed9d76c384928cfe2f1ddc564a8bca9\\u0022\\u003EWest Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Parole Services\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ed7f09829b42b50a42f48bb6b394ce7f5\\u0022\\u003EFayette County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ee95b73bc133d8254d434465af1334645\\u0022\\u003EJackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022efa66e004f731e83bedcc0dfdd83efb2e\\u0022\\u003EKanawha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e88a3f58699e85a84631d2ace8c0c414a\\u0022\\u003ELogan County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e1443d49941ee39c6a1b379bb0dbf8a68\\u0022\\u003EMercer County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e751452fa8563562de01b11f93d53f74b\\u0022\\u003EPutnam County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e8de7d04125198c25f007511380c81041\\u0022\\u003ERaleigh County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli [...truncated 13350 characters...] 003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\u0022 width=\\u00221430\\u0022 height=\\u00221073\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\/we\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\u0026amp;muv=1\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\u0026amp;cac=1\\u0026amp;sams=1\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\u0026amp;hch=1\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Csup\\u003E[1]\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\u2019s Order.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788964120\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alaska\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460531\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with typed message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460541\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460546\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460551\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of room full of monitors\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\",\"name\":\"Cybercrime\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\",\"uuid\":\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. PAUL \\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, aka \\u201cHomie,\\u201d 34, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The defendant was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson on September 9, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Diaz-Aguilar managed the \\u201cDiaz-Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)\\u201d and is a member of the\\u0026nbsp;Sure\\u00f1os, a transnational criminal organization originating in Southern California. He is one of several defendants in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Diaz-Aguilar et al.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOther defendants in the case include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e74d419e99110e5efd26fb500b06c1a45\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJuan Martin Elvira Jr.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of Rochester, Minnesota, sentenced to 75 months in prison on June 11, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec237b6ed2063f44cc9f0d6e5cf4980a7\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdward Gonzalez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of Hastings, Minnesota, sentenced to 120 months in prison on June 3, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ebc0579d0d7543cc895a4db017be8b330\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EEric Anthony Rodriguez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of St. Paul, Minnesota, sentenced to 260 months in prison on August 13, 2026, following a six-day trial where he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e5d8501240cbcf5f3a5d5ddf09defdbe4\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBruce Michael Orton,\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E of North Branch, Minnesota, sentenced to 140 months in prison on June 16, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in the summer of 2024, law enforcement began investigating suspected methamphetamine trafficking in Rochester, Minnesota. In August 2024, agents executed a search warrant at a coconspirator\\u2019s residence and found approximately 7.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 M-30 fentanyl pills, a variety of marijuana products, cellphones, and nearly $8,000 in cash. A review of the coconspirator\\u2019s phone revealed messages with \\u201cHomie,\\u201d the coconspirator\\u2019s methamphetamine supplier, with transactions going back to April 2024. Agents later determined that \\u201cHomie\\u201d was Diaz-Aguilar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom October 2024 through January 2025, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Diaz-Aguilar and executed a search warrant at a stash house in Hastings, Minnesota, where agents found a bulk quantity of methamphetamine and used drug packaging that demonstrated hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine had recently traveled through the house.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, Diaz-Aguilar traveled to Chicago with two coconspirators to obtain a bulk quantity of methamphetamine and traveled in a two-vehicle convoy back to Minnesota. Police stopped the vehicle driven by one of the defendant\\u2019s coconspirators, Edward Gonzalez, and located approximately 42 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAgents later executed a search warrant at Diaz-Aguilar\\u2019s residence and seized his phones. Investigators found messages between the defendant and another coconspirator, Bruce Orton, about drug transactions dating back to August 2023 including discussions on pricing and the defendant\\u2019s access to 170 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents also found a ledger in Diaz-Aguilar\\u2019s closet that contained sales entries of bulk quantities of methamphetamine to others.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic deadly narcotics in Minnesota will be met with decisive action. My office remains fully committed to protecting the public by dismantling the criminal networks that put our communities at risk,\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday, the ringleader of an organization responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,\\u201d said DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\u201cNo one is above the law and today\\u2019s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighborhoods.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Olmsted County Sheriff\\u0027s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,\\u201d said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff\\u0027s Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the indictment (\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/five-members-surenos-affiliated-transnational-criminal-organization-charged-narcotics\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EApril 8, 2025\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E) linked here.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:14:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995647\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Minnesota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995556\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 20 Years\\u2019 Imprisonment for Supervisory Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sure\\u00f1os and Sinaloa Cartel\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-20-years-imprisonment-supervisory-role-methamphetamine-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"d05b30cf-e8a6-4190-997c-4658cb4e8895\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERICHMOND, Va. \\u2013 A federal jury convicted three defendants on charges relating to a Medicaid fraud scheme through a Henrico-based mental health agency. This case is part of the Trump Administration\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court records and evidence presented at trial, twin sisters E\\u0027mon and Armone\\u0027 Ambers, 31, and Traquan Brown, 32, participated in a scheme to defraud Medicaid through a mental health agency known as Divine Youth Counseling, LLC. E\\u2019mon Ambers was Divine Youth\\u2019s Chief Executive Officer and Armone\\u2019 Ambers was Divine Youth\\u2019s Program Director. Brown, who was involved in a romantic relationship with E\\u2019mon, was employed by Divine Youth and purported to provide counseling services on behalf of the agency.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court documents, between January 2022 and October 2025, Divine Youth submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid for mental health services known as Crisis Stabilization and Mobile Crisis. The defendants falsely claimed that two mental health professionals simultaneously provided services to Medicaid recipients, when in truth, at most a single mental health professional was present for the service. The false claims that two professionals provided \\u201cTeam Treatment\\u201d services caused millions of dollars of loss to Medicaid.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe defendants also paid more than $470,000 in illegal kickbacks in the form of purchasing hotel rooms for Medicaid recipients. The defendants used the hotel rooms to incentivize recipients to obtain Medicaid services from Divine Youth, a practice the defendants knew and understood was wrong and unlawful.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EE\\u0027mon and Armone\\u0027 Ambers were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, payment of kickbacks, and transactional money laundering. E\\u0027mon faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 92 years in prison, and Armone\\u0027 faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 42 years in prison. Brown was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. He faces up to ten years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe Court will hold a separate proceeding on Dec. 14 to address the defendants\\u2019 forfeiture obligations. The assets subject to forfeiture include $5,937,156.30 in funds seized pursuant to a federal seizure warrant.\\u0026nbsp;Additional forfeitable property includes assets involved in the transactional money laundering offenses, including two matching Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons and a residence purchased in Richmond, Texas.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s Richmond Field Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General investigated this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Day, Janet Jin Ah Lee, and Leighton Watson are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u0027Fraud Division\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-24.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:02:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788966128\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:01:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788966109\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EE\\u0027mon and Armone\\u0027 Ambers, 31, and Traquan Brown, 32, were convicted on charges relating to an $11M Medicaid fraud scheme through a Henrico-based mental health agency.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal jury convicts three conspirators in $11M Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edva\\/pr\\/federal-jury-convicts-three-conspirators-11m-medicaid-fraud-and-kickback-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"e52db9de-991b-4213-a4d5-b37ebac1356d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison\\u0026nbsp;for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Fentanyl is tearing apart families and poisoning our communities at an alarming rate,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\u201cThis sentence sends a clear and unwavering message to drug traffickers: if you flood our streets with lethal chemicals for profit, you will be caught, and you will face severe consequences in federal prison. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these deadly networks and protect the people of Las Vegas.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cEvery drug trafficker operates with a single, ruthless purpose\\u2014profiting from human suffering,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. \\u201cAlongside our partners, the FBI will continue dismantling their networks, erase their poison from our streets, and ensure every single participant faces justice behind bars.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, from October 28, 2023, to January 21, 2024, Brooks, also known as \\u201cGrizz,\\u201d conspired with co-defendant Geronimo Gutierrez to distribute pills containing fentanyl. During a drug transaction, Brooks possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine and paid cash to an individual for approximately 2,000 pills.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance. Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams, about the size of a few grains of salt, can be lethal.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBrooks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder. On January 12, 2026, Gutierrez was sentenced to 97 months in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:30:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788978631\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:28:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788978510\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison\\u0026nbsp;for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-10-years-prison-fentanyl-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"4ffad750-ad9c-4111-b4e3-aa40612c4458\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court, stemming from charges for his role as a drug supplier.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Alcedo Hodge, Jr., 30, of Parkville, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges are in connection with a multi-state Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) drug investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney [...truncated]

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":20,\\\"page\\\":9},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.581575870513916},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA federal judge has sentenced \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETimothy Adams, 55\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp; United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on February 2, 2024, Dyer County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 hang up call.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon arrival, they encountered Adams hiding behind a shed.\\\\u0026nbsp; It was determined through the investigation that Adams picked up a .38 revolver from the house and fired one round into the headboard near another occupant of the residence during a domestic violence incident.\\\\u0026nbsp; Officers confirmed the bullet hole in the headboard and recovered one spent shell casing from the .38 revolver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 22, 2025, Adams pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Due to his extensive prior criminal conviction history which includes prior violent and serious drug offenses, the Court determined that Adams qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), resulting in enhanced mandatory minimum sentencing penalties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 19, 2026, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Adams to 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, \\\\u201cAdams\\\\u2019 prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law, and his lifestyle of lawlessness has finally caught up with him. He has devoted most of his life to repeated criminal conduct, and now the federal system will do what should have been done a long time ago \\\\u2013 impose a real consequence that will prevent him from victimizing anyone else for years to come.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham, who prosecuted this case in conjunction with Assistant District Attorney General Andrew Hays, of the Tennessee District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the 29\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;Judicial District, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. Follow the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2Fa9UhD2Prx8nIY-6djnGphQDbShTcuPoA1ztwg7nk7Fg=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a087425887-d39a0ace-81d5-443d-90b4-94f9f9751545-000000\\\\/w_waT0DeB4wH-0KW5MzwPHbqOzQ-gde1skaVVR5iuw8=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eon Facebook\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fprotect2.fireeye.com%252Fv1%252Furl%253Fk=1ccf5694-7982ef19-1cc87271-74fe48680e18-429ea4c66a6734da%2526q=1%2526e=160013ce-d024-44a4-8061-4f5534e7d3ee%2526u=https%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwitter.com%25252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2FamSIP6DtqegVIpgurWZC34y6s_PeEiF-k7QfKo-xkgA=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a087425887-d39a0ace-81d5-443d-90b4-94f9f9751545-000000\\\\/IHDCbiY67kiXNKdzMzwbjd4XU0RLVWTgmdwcfpS3n7w=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eon X\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:34:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788982459\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ab4078-eaac-4d82-8ebf-cf84fb74f272\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975831\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA federal judge has sentenced \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETimothy Adams, 55\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp; United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on February 2, 2024, Dyer County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 hang up call.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon arrival, they encountered...\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dyer County Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession and Discharge of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtn\\\\/pr\\\\/dyer-county-armed-career-criminal-sentenced-15-years-prison-illegal-possession-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"acafc9b9-d79f-4c79-8db0-c1542220c438\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBerkeley Law School\\\\u2019s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court\\\\u2019s decision in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cThe Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTitle VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,\\\\u201d said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. \\\\u201cThe Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today\\\\u2019s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department\\\\u2019s investigation found that post-\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley\\\\u2019s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be \\\\u201cgrouped\\\\u201d with others of the same \\\\u201cprimary identity\\\\u201d in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eagainst\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law\\\\u2019s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department\\\\u2019s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school\\\\u2019s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMembers of the public may report possible civil rights violations at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENote\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Read the Department\\\\u2019s Findings Letter \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/media\\\\/1460556\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ehere\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981025\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"781c38e6-513e-4ab2-9590-0ff78dc743a5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights - Educational Opportunities Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:36:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788971776\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1033\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"619b3f3a-4973-45f0-aa49-c02eb29eaa82\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBROWNSVILLE, Texas \\\\u2013 A 29-year-old woman has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaura Janette Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 21, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 25 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation began in early 2024 when authorities identified Edgar Alejandro Villarreal, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Fresa, as a large-scale cocaine trafficker coordinating the smuggling, transportation, and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring surveillance operations April 16, 2024, law enforcement observed Gonzalez and others arrive at a Weslaco parking lot in a Chevrolet Equinox to deliver narcotics. After spotting authorities, they fled.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAuthorities conducted a traffic stop resulted in the discovery of a gift-wrapped box containing approximately 8.8 kilograms of cocaine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed Villarreal and Edith Gonzalez, Laura Janette Gonzalez\\\\u2019s sister, coordinated the shipment that Laura Janette Gonzalez was to deliver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBoth Villarreal, 38, Brownsville, and Edith Gonzalez, 45, Donna, pleaded guilty. Edith Gonzalez received a 78-month-term, while Villarreal is scheduled to be sentenced Oct 21.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaura Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF South Texas\\\\/Houston comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol\\\\/Department of State; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrownsville Police Department also assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:32:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789000346\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:27:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789000025\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 29-year-old woman has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Second cocaine trafficker receives prison sentence in Homeland Security Task Force investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/second-cocaine-trafficker-receives-prison-sentence-homeland-security-task-force\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3f1e78f-094e-4fe9-9182-539ceaa2899c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 An Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $178,746,556 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall pleaded guilty on April 7 to one count of wire fraud committed while on release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\\\u2019s our department\\\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal hundreds of millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\\\u2019s neediest residents,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent permissible under the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers,\\\\u201d aid Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system. HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe amount of money Paul Randall stole from California taxpayers through his fraud scheme is staggering,\\\\u201d said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cBy exploiting a loophole in the Medi-Cal system, he was able to bill nearly $270 million dollars, then launder it to evade detection and pay kickbacks to his co-schemers. Today\\\\u2019s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone considering defrauding health care benefit programs that the federal government is actively seeking fraudulent claims and will pursue prosecution.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall, along with Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, and Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain health care services or medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirements was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMedi-Cal is California\\\\u2019s Medicaid program, a public health insurance program which provides health care services for the state\\\\u2019s neediest residents, including low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, and individuals in foster care.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy, Randall and his co-schemers exploited Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursement, non-contracted, generic drugs through Monte Vista Pharmacy. Some prescription medications purportedly were to treat pain and included Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENormally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s old payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently was not dispensed to patients, and procured by kickbacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Monte Vista billed Medi-Cal more than $269 million and was paid more than $178 million for 19 expensive, non-contracted drugs containing low-cost, generic ingredients that were not medically necessary, not provided, or both.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall also admitted that he committed the offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUSA v. Paul Richard Randall,\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E No. 20cr31).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall and others then laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring the proceeds of the Medi-Cal fraud scheme to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to Anderson, to promote the fraud scheme and to conceal and disguise the transfers from detection by law enforcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall caused the wiring of at least approximately $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for purportedly dispensing the fraud scheme medications that Anderson prescribed, on which Medi-Cal paid at least approximately $178,746,556.\\\\u0026nbsp; Randall started this fraud scheme while awaiting sentencing in another federal criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven properties, and sports memorabilia, such as Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson baseball cards worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and Kobe Bryant game worn and signed sneakers.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMekail pleaded guilty in August 2024 to two counts of health care fraud and awaits sentencing. Anderson is charged with two counts of health care fraud, and the criminal case against her is still pending.\\\\u0026nbsp; A criminal complaint was filed against Christina Mareik, a.k.a. \\\\u201cChristina Marie Sanchez Hernandez\\\\u201d, charging her with health care fraud and alleging that she played a key role in the Medi-Cal fraud scheme by creating fraudulent prescriptions for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and directing Anderson to sign them. The case against Hernandez is still pending.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the U.S. Department of Justice, Fraud Enforcement Division, are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:44:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979489\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:39:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979190\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-154\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Orange County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Orchestrating Massive Health Care Fraud that Submitted Nearly $270 Million in Bogus Claims\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/orange-county-man-sentenced-30-years-federal-prison-orchestrating-massive-health-care\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a7e5bd4-59c1-47ce-9647-2dd6e9e8baca\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictments, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEdwin Aldana\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a separate indictment, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:37:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975453\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Rhode Island\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975081\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-91\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ri\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-grand-jury-indicts-two-men-illegal-reentry-united-states\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"439f62c4-ffee-455d-9f7f-cb523d22c6f3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959768\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959085\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERUTLAND \\\\u2013 The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 8, 2026, Todd Hoyte, 55, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 36 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier scheduled a hearing on December 3, 2026, to determine any restitution that Hoyte owes as part of his sentence. Previously, Hoyte pleaded guilty to making interstate threats and cyberstalking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between July 29, 2024, and September 25, 2024, in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats, Hoyte, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, placed more than 10 cellphone calls to Vermont, during which he left voicemails for Grand Isle County State\\\\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito. These voicemails included a threat on DiSabito\\\\u2019s life as well as insults, slurs, and derogatory language against DiSabito. At the time, DiSabito was prosecuting Hoyte for a criminal offense. In pleading guilty, Hoyte admitted that he made communications to harass and intimidate DiSabito as well as for the purpose of issuing a threat and with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat to DiSabito.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Hoyte was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:01:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788969682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:58:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788969508\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Virgin Islands Man Sentenced For Making Interstate Threats and Stalking\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/us-virgin-islands-man-sentenced-making-interstate-threats-and-stalking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"937304d3-fafe-464d-9594-9549359d226d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis serial felon\\\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\\\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957073\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\\\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPLANO, Texas \\\\u2013 Two Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, Chinese citizens, were charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with drug trafficking and money laundering violations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn May, Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville, and Judy Ly, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/lewisville-man-michigan-woman-indicted-eastern-district-texas-synthetic-drug-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E in the same conspiracy.\\\\u0026nbsp; All four defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess contraband in prison; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.\\\\u0026nbsp; Willis was also charged with possession of synthetic drugs with intent to distribute.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe indictment alleges that a China\\\\u2011based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States for distribution across the country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cWe will continue working with our Homeland Security Task Force partners to pursue and hold accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs into our country.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Homeland Security Task Force was established by President Trump\\\\u2019s executive order to protect Americans from illegal drug activity infesting our communities,\\\\u201d said FBI Director Kash Patel. \\\\u201cThis FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to identify, find, and arrest these criminals who bring drugs to our streets. These two Chinese nationals allegedly trafficked dangerous, synthetic drugs from China into the United States and smuggled them into our prison systems for illicit gain. This HSTF investigation is yet another example, among thousands, of our task forces working throughout the country, every day, to make it safer for everyone. Thank you to FBI Dallas and our great law enforcement partners across the interagency who worked this investigation with us.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s announcement underscores DEA\\\\u2019s commitment to attack the entire synthetic drug supply chain and trace these deadly substances back to their source. This investigation led us to China, and thanks to the cooperation of Chinese law enforcement, two Chinese nationals are now in custody and will face justice for their role in supplying dangerous drugs destined for Americans,\\\\u201d said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. \\\\u201cDEA\\\\u2019s global reach and chemical precursor expertise are unmatched. We are proud to bring those capabilities to the Homeland Security Task Force as we work together to identify these networks, dismantle their supply chains, and build landmark cases.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment alleges that beginning in March 2023, the defendants conspired to possess synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants, and other controlled analogues, in correctional institutions.\\\\u0026nbsp; It is alleged in the indictment that Willis purchased synthetic drugs from Xing and Song in China and had them shipped to his residence in the Eastern District of Texas and Ly\\\\u2019s residence in Michigan.\\\\u0026nbsp; It is also alleged that once Willis and Ly received the synthetic drugs, they would convert the drugs to a liquid before soaking sheets of paper in the drug mixture.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once the sheets of paper were saturated, they were then delivered to inmates at various federal and state correctional institutions across the country.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChina\\\\u2019s Ministry of Public Security arrested\\\\u0026nbsp;Xing, Song, and 19 co-conspirators, seized 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, and shutdown four illicit manufacturing sites in China. The FBI-MPS counternarcotics working group, established in January 2026, facilitated the collaborative efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal network.\\\\u0026nbsp;These results represent a major milestone in U.S.\\\\u2013China counternarcotics cooperation and underscore the effectiveness of sustained, structured coordination between both countries in addressing the international illicit chemical supply chain.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;case is\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.\\\\u0026nbsp; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:05:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788973502\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:22:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788970942\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chinese nationals arrested in China as Homeland Security Task Force  works to stop drugs imported through the Eastern District of Texas destined for U.S. prisons\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/chinese-nationals-arrested-china-homeland-security-task-force-works-stop-drugs\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"802571be-235e-460d-8a1c-4239e6cfba14\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESAVANNAH, Georgia:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAn Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe\\\\u0026nbsp;sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. \\\\u201cMeg\\\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETorrence Veal\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 37, of Ellabell, Georgia, was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and testimony, Veal was found in possession of a Glock, Model 48, 9 mm pistol in Chatham County in December 2024. Police officers with the Chatham County Police Department responded to a shooting at a Motel 6 in Savannah where officers learned that an altercation between Veal and an employee of the motel had occurred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter the initial altercation, Veal left and later returned, located the employee in the parking lot and fired the weapon multiple times in the employee\\\\u2019s direction. Veal then discarded the firearm before fleeing the scene. A Chatham County firearm detection K-9 officer was dispatched to the location and a search of the area resulted in the firearm being discovered in a nearby gutter.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInvestigators later determined the firearm was stolen. Veal\\\\u2019s lengthy criminal history includes prior convictions for aggravated assault.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis significant sentence is a reminder that illegally possessing a firearm is a serious offense,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\\\u201cIllegally possessed firearms are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWithin minutes of this crime occurring, Chatham County Police Department patrol officers, detectives, and forensic specialists were on the scene to interview witnesses and gather the crucial evidence needed to make an arrest,\\\\u201d said Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley. \\\\u201cWe are proud to partner with federal authorities in bringing repeat offenders to justice and keeping the streets of our county safe for everyone.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chatham County Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:52:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976357\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:35:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975311\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"87-26\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon in possession of a firearm sentenced to nine years in prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdga\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-possession-firearm-sentenced-nine-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3431cd6b-3244-44ee-8b70-769c554fe22d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT\\\\u2019s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax\\\\/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed.\\\\u0026nbsp; The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGuilty Plea\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencing Date\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAmount of Loss\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/9\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$665,639.74\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[3] C\\\\u00e9sar Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Nieves\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$852,487.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[4] 24 Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$35,125.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[5] A La Silla LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$205,514.32\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[6] RB Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$154,728.92\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$526,263.67\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[8] L\\\\u00edneas de Puerto Rico, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$393,408.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[9] H\\\\u00e9ctor J. Baerga-Ortiz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,833,983.81\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[10] H\\\\u00edjole Foods Bistro Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$447,241.14\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[11] HVP Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$564,545.29\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[12] BBB Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$386,483.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[13] BHV Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$225,340.52\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[14] VHB Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$131,461.02\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[15] Carlos A. Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Ortiz\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/7\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/2\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/10\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$193,577.03\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/3\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$437,785.06\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[22] Gabrielle L\\\\u00f3pez-Berr\\\\u00edos\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/16\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$36,138.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[23] G Fitness \\\\u0026amp; Body Performance LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$17,309.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[24] Veevo LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,642\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[25] Patria Silfa-B\\\\u00e1ez\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$47,209.44\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[26] Print Pro LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$44,630.33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Mar\\\\u00eda Antongiorgi-Jord\\\\u00e1n.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActing U.S. Attorney H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico\\\\u2019s Financial Fraud \\\\u0026amp; Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-individuals-and-companies-indicted-puerto-rico-tax-debt-scheme-involving-over\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ethe indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, the July 2, 2026 \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-pleads-guilty-bribery-conspiracy-involving-loss-5-million\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Luis A. Jim\\\\u00e9nez-Guzm\\\\u00e1n\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-and-business-owner-plead-guilty-wire-fraud-conspiracy-involving-loss\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:29:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956974\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:17:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956260\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-096\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/additional-hacienda-employee-and-business-owners-plead-guilty-bribery-conspiracies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6c4442ff-37a1-4b48-8809-0813101a5bc5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man is facing federal indictment in connection with child sex abuse crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERobert Paul Miller, III, 35, of West Friendship, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possessing CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Miller distributed videos depicting adults sexually abusing minors. Miller also maintained a Dropbox storage account, associated with his email address, that contained one or more CSAM visual depictions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E and click on the \\\\u201cResources\\\\u201d tab on the left of the page.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment is not a finding of guilt.\\\\u0026nbsp;Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Miller faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for distributing CSAM.\\\\u0026nbsp;Miller also faces a maximum of 10 years for possessing CSAM.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.\\\\u0026nbsp; A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and HCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:26:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981985\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:23:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981826\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man is facing federal indictment in connection with child sex abuse crimes. \\\\u0026nbsp;Robert Paul Miller, III, 35, of West Friendship, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possessing CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Indicted on Distribution and Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material Charges \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/man-indicted-distribution-and-possession-child-sex-abuse-material-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8aa007e2-1440-4260-acce-0633cede2b39\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California\\\\u2019s history.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\\\u2019s most vulnerable residents,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,\\\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\\\u201cHHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\\\u2019s our department\\\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Paul Richard Randall\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, No. CR 20-00031-GW).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California\\\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:25:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981901\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:12:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981146\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1035\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8f0bf01d-a76e-49d6-884a-ce46e8e96164\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*** Video of the press conference is available on the YouTube channel of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/wvs\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E for the Southern District of West Virginia: \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/watch?v=AYa0R7zLolo\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/watch?v=AYa0R7zLolo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E. ***\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Attorney Moore Capito joined with U.S. Marshal Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police Colonel James Mitchell, and other law enforcement partners today to announce the success of \\\\u201cOperation Coal Country.\\\\u201d The multi-week enforcement initiative targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, violent fugitives, and other wanted individuals throughout\\\\u0026nbsp;the Southern District of\\\\u0026nbsp;West Virginia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe 59 individuals arrested during the operation, which began August 13, 2026, and concluded last week, include 16 convicted sex offenders wanted on registration violations and 10 individuals charged with new sex offenses. The West Virginia State Police conducted over 380 compliance checks of registered sex offenders as part of Operation Coal Country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEach arrest resulting from these targeted enforcement operations protects our communities and makes them safer,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Moore Capito. \\\\u201cThe success of this operation continues the momentum we\\\\u2019ve created through dedicated, collaborative, and aggressive efforts with our law enforcement partners.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThose arrested during Operation Coal Country include Clinton G. McNeely, 31, of Lyburn. A federal grand jury indicted McNeely on August 18, 2026, on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of production of obscene material.\\\\u0026nbsp;McNeely was arrested on August 20, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo convicted sex offenders were indicted as part of Operation Coal Country after allegedly violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, SORNA provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAmong the other individuals arrested during Operation Coal Country, five face federal drug charges, three allegedly violated federal supervised release, and two allegedly violated terms of\\\\u0026nbsp;their federal pretrial release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOperation Coal Country focused heavily on sex offender compliance and fugitive apprehension throughout the West Virginia State Police Troop 5 area of Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne counties. Several of those arrested face charges in additional counties within the Southern District of West Virginia. Those arrested also include a fugitive wanted for murder in Florida who was captured in Dunbar, and a suspect in the sexual abuse of a female juvenile family member in Parkersburg who was arrested in Arizona. Participating law enforcement also found a missing child after an alleged parental abduction in Wood County.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe operation brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement resources in a coordinated effort to locate and apprehend fugitives while also conducting enforcement activities involving registered sex offenders. Investigators worked to identify registered sex offenders who were not complying with state and federal registration requirements and to locate individuals wanted for crimes involving sexual offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers also seized 75.1 grams of fentanyl, 1.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, 33.3 grams of cocaine, approximately $6,000, one firearm, and assorted ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe success of Operation Coal Country demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combine their resources toward a common mission,\\\\u201d said\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Marshal\\\\u0026nbsp;Jack Chambers. \\\\u201cFifty-nine arrests over the course of this operation means 59 wanted individuals were located and taken into custody. More importantly, this operation placed a significant emphasis on protecting our communities from individuals who have committed sex offenses or failed to comply with their registration requirements. The U.S. Marshals Service and West Virginia State Police will continue working together to investigate noncompliant sex offenders and apprehend dangerous fugitives throughout southern West Virginia.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen law enforcement works together, criminals have fewer places to hide,\\\\u201d said Colonel James Mitchell, superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. \\\\u201cOperation Coal Country shows the power of a coordinated, proactive approach to protecting our communities and holding offenders accountable. The West Virginia State Police is proud to stand with the U.S. Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in doing everything we can to keep the people of West Virginia safe.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Southern District of West Virginia Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force and the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) led Operation Coal Country in partnership with numerous other law enforcement organizations:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e932b7574d7c49d3666ab6f589bdacda3\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8b78ccedc9beead774a1f3abff843b21\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e34c9701f642db3bb3c3c3dbbe6039a4f\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENational Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb85b0835c9a2ecd81ec07520467224a8\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWVSP Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e9a8f19fdc45cbfdd661c9794fdc6d925\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWVSP Sex Offender Registry\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebed9d76c384928cfe2f1ddc564a8bca9\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWest Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Parole Services\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ed7f09829b42b50a42f48bb6b394ce7f5\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFayette County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ee95b73bc133d8254d434465af1334645\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022efa66e004f731e83bedcc0dfdd83efb2e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e88a3f58699e85a84631d2ace8c0c414a\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELogan County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1443d49941ee39c6a1b379bb0dbf8a68\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMercer County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e751452fa8563562de01b11f93d53f74b\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPutnam County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8de7d04125198c25f007511380c81041\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERaleigh County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221430\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221073\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\\\/we\\\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\\\u0026amp;muv=1\\\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\\\u0026amp;cac=1\\\\u0026amp;sams=1\\\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\\\u0026amp;hch=1\\\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003E[1]\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\\\u2019s Order.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788964120\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alaska\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460531\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with typed message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460541\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460546\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460551\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of room full of monitors\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\\\u201cXinbi\\\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Cybercrime\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. PAUL \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, aka \\\\u201cHomie,\\\\u201d 34, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The defendant was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson on September 9, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Diaz-Aguilar managed the \\\\u201cDiaz-Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)\\\\u201d and is a member of the\\\\u0026nbsp;Sure\\\\u00f1os, a transnational criminal organization originating in Southern California. He is one of several defendants in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Diaz-Aguilar et al.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOther defendants in the case include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e74d419e99110e5efd26fb500b06c1a45\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJuan Martin Elvira Jr.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Rochester, Minnesota, sentenced to 75 months in prison on June 11, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec237b6ed2063f44cc9f0d6e5cf4980a7\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEdward Gonzalez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Hastings, Minnesota, sentenced to 120 months in prison on June 3, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebc0579d0d7543cc895a4db017be8b330\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEric Anthony Rodriguez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of St. Paul, Minnesota, sentenced to 260 months in prison on August 13, 2026, following a six-day trial where he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e5d8501240cbcf5f3a5d5ddf09defdbe4\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBruce Michael Orton,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E of North Branch, Minnesota, sentenced to 140 months in prison on June 16, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in the summer of 2024, law enforcement began investigating suspected methamphetamine trafficking in Rochester, Minnesota. In August 2024, agents executed a search warrant at a coconspirator\\\\u2019s residence and found approximately 7.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 M-30 fentanyl pills, a variety of marijuana products, cellphones, and nearly $8,000 in cash. A review of the coconspirator\\\\u2019s phone revealed messages with \\\\u201cHomie,\\\\u201d the coconspirator\\\\u2019s methamphetamine supplier, with transactions going back to April 2024. Agents later determined that \\\\u201cHomie\\\\u201d was Diaz-Aguilar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom October 2024 through January 2025, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Diaz-Aguilar and executed a search warrant at a stash house in Hastings, Minnesota, where agents found a bulk quantity of methamphetamine and used drug packaging that demonstrated hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine had recently traveled through the house.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn December 2024, Diaz-Aguilar traveled to Chicago with two coconspirators to obtain a bulk quantity of methamphetamine and traveled in a two-vehicle convoy back to Minnesota. Police stopped the vehicle driven by one of the defendant\\\\u2019s coconspirators, Edward Gonzalez, and located approximately 42 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents later executed a search warrant at Diaz-Aguilar\\\\u2019s residence and seized his phones. Investigators found messages between the defendant and another coconspirator, Bruce Orton, about drug transactions dating back to August 2023 including discussions on pricing and the defendant\\\\u2019s access to 170 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents also found a ledger in Diaz-Aguilar\\\\u2019s closet that contained sales entries of bulk quantities of methamphetamine to others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic deadly narcotics in Minnesota will be met with decisive action. My office remains fully committed to protecting the public by dismantling the criminal networks that put our communities at risk,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday, the ringleader of an organization responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,\\\\u201d said DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\\\u201cNo one is above the law and today\\\\u2019s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighborhoods.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,\\\\u201d said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/five-members-surenos-affiliated-transnational-criminal-organization-charged-narcotics\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EApril 8, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:14:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995647\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995556\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 20 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Supervisory Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sure\\\\u00f1os and Sinaloa Cartel\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-20-years-imprisonment-supervisory-role-methamphetamine-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d05b30cf-e8a6-4190-997c-4658cb4e8895\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERICHMOND, Va. \\\\u2013 A federal jury convicted three defendants on charges relating to a Medicaid fraud scheme through a Henrico-based mental health agency. This case is part of the Trump Administration\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court records and evidence presented at trial, twin sisters E\\\\u0027mon and Armone\\\\u0027 Ambers, 31, and Traquan Brown, 32, participated in a scheme to defraud Medicaid through a mental health agency known as Divine Youth Counseling, LLC. E\\\\u2019mon Ambers was Divine Youth\\\\u2019s Chief Executive Officer and Armone\\\\u2019 Ambers was Divine Youth\\\\u2019s Program Director. Brown, who was involved in a romantic relationship with E\\\\u2019mon, was employed by Divine Youth and purported to provide counseling services on behalf of the agency.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, between January 2022 and October 2025, Divine Youth submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid for mental health services known as Crisis Stabilization and Mobile Crisis. The defendants falsely claimed that two mental health professionals simultaneously provided services to Medicaid recipients, when in truth, at most a single mental health professional was present for the service. The false claims that two professionals provided \\\\u201cTeam Treatment\\\\u201d services caused millions of dollars of loss to Medicaid.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe defendants also paid more than $470,000 in illegal kickbacks in the form of purchasing hotel rooms for Medicaid recipients. The defendants used the hotel rooms to incentivize recipients to obtain Medicaid services from Divine Youth, a practice the defendants knew and understood was wrong and unlawful.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EE\\\\u0027mon and Armone\\\\u0027 Ambers were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, payment of kickbacks, and transactional money laundering. E\\\\u0027mon faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 92 years in prison, and Armone\\\\u0027 faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 42 years in prison. Brown was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. He faces up to ten years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Court will hold a separate proceeding on Dec. 14 to address the defendants\\\\u2019 forfeiture obligations. The assets subject to forfeiture include $5,937,156.30 in funds seized pursuant to a federal seizure warrant.\\\\u0026nbsp;Additional forfeitable property includes assets involved in the transactional money laundering offenses, including two matching Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons and a residence purchased in Richmond, Texas.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe FBI\\\\u2019s Richmond Field Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General investigated this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Day, Janet Jin Ah Lee, and Leighton Watson are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u0027Fraud Division\\\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-24.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:02:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788966128\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:01:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788966109\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE\\\\u0027mon and Armone\\\\u0027 Ambers, 31, and Traquan Brown, 32, were convicted on charges relating to an $11M Medicaid fraud scheme through a Henrico-based mental health agency.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal jury convicts three conspirators in $11M Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-three-conspirators-11m-medicaid-fraud-and-kickback-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e52db9de-991b-4213-a4d5-b37ebac1356d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison\\\\u0026nbsp;for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Fentanyl is tearing apart families and poisoning our communities at an alarming rate,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cThis sentence sends a clear and unwavering message to drug traffickers: if you flood our streets with lethal chemicals for profit, you will be caught, and you will face severe consequences in federal prison. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these deadly networks and protect the people of Las Vegas.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEvery drug trafficker operates with a single, ruthless purpose\\\\u2014profiting from human suffering,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. \\\\u201cAlongside our partners, the FBI will continue dismantling their networks, erase their poison from our streets, and ensure every single participant faces justice behind bars.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, from October 28, 2023, to January 21, 2024, Brooks, also known as \\\\u201cGrizz,\\\\u201d conspired with co-defendant Geronimo Gutierrez to distribute pills containing fentanyl. During a drug transaction, Brooks possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine and paid cash to an individual for approximately 2,000 pills.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance. Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams, about the size of a few grains of salt, can be lethal.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrooks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder. On January 12, 2026, Gutierrez was sentenced to 97 months in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:30:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978631\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:28:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978510\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison\\\\u0026nbsp;for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-10-years-prison-fentanyl-trafficking-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4ffad750-ad9c-4111-b4e3-aa40612c4458\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court, stemming from charges for his role as a drug supplier.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Alcedo Hodge, Jr., 30, of Parkville, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges are in connection with a multi-state Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) drug investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 3.433937481
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01HrnHJBYxsn5RXWQJwFZR4V

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{ "brief": "DOJ press releases, page 9 of 50-item pages", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0066

(no result)

Tool Result E0067

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":9},\"executionTime\":2.514833927154541},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS.\\u0026nbsp;The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi\\u2019s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi,\\u0026nbsp;either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTax fraud isn\\u2019t just a numbers game\\u2014it\\u2019s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,\\u201d said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. \\u201cThis sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:06:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440772\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440658\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/tampa-man-sentenced-46-months-federal-prison-and-ordered-pay-over-700000-internal\",\"uuid\":\"cf777ea7-8b90-4b2a-8bf1-46828e0572e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization\\u2019s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attach\\u00e9 Office in Bogot\\u00e1 worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:53:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461605\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:52:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461529\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Leader \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/homeland-security-task-force-yields-30-year-prison-sentence-colombian-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"10622a9c-12d0-47cb-aea8-5ff1dd12c949\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECLEVELAND \\u2013 Today, a federal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a nearly two-week-long trial in front of U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, Kaprise Sledge, 24, of Warren, and Thomas Sledge, 44, of Youngstown, were found guilty of:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e92996019d140c31fad608ab11ecd1911\\u0022\\u003EMurder of an Officer and Employee of the United States\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e95b78f70ed40969a63815e5a41943abf\\u0022\\u003EUsing, Carrying, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented to the jury, on March 2, 2024, the two men aided and abetted one another in the premeditated killing of Jont\\u2019e Davis, 33. At the time of his murder, Davis was carrying out his official duties as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, in Warren, Ohio, when he was struck by gunfire coming from a gray Dodge Ram truck that drove up next to his parked mail truck. An eyewitness called 911 and identified the vehicle involved in the shooting. Investigators were able to confirm that the truck was registered to Kaprise Sledge.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThrough video surveillance footage and telephone records, investigators were able to establish that Kaprise Sledge and his father, Thomas, stalked Davis along his delivery route for approximately an hour and a half before shooting and killing him.\\u0026nbsp;Additionally, during the execution of a search warrant at Kaprise Sledge\\u2019s residence, agents located evidence of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10. Both Sledges face a term of up to life imprisonment on the murder charge, and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life imprisonment on the firearms charges. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Postal Inspection Service Cleveland Office and the Warren Police Department investigated the case. The Trumbull County Action Group Drug Task Force, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and Trumbull County Emergency Management also assisted in this investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys\\u003Cstrong\\u003E Carol Skutnik\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EPeter Daly\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBrett Hammond\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, and \\u003Cstrong\\u003ESamuel Lioi\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.uspis.gov\\/report\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.uspis.gov\\/report\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:27:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072061\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T16:54:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788468887\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Father and Son Convicted for Their Roles in the Murder of a USPS Mail Carrier\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndoh\\/pr\\/father-and-son-convicted-their-roles-murder-usps-mail-carrier\",\"uuid\":\"b8a7be0a-a58d-49f4-baee-f019874fe4bc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\u2013 United States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe call comes as the Department of Justice\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In an\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal\\/media\\/1459461\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Eopen letter\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;issued this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe initiative builds on prevention efforts already underway in New Jersey. Last month, our office obtained an\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/middlesex-county-man-admits-production-and-possession-child-pornography\\u0022\\u003Eadmission of guilt\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by a defendant who had persuaded and enticed minors to produce and send child pornography. In addition, a defendant was\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/philadelphia-county-child-predator-sentenced-27-years-child-exploitation-offenses\\u0022\\u003Esentenced to 324 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for multiple child exploitation offenses.\\u0026nbsp; In June, our office secured a\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/child-predator-sentenced-320-months-prison-producing-child-pornography\\u0022\\u003E320 months prison sentence\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for a defendant who was producing child pornography. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to find and prosecute cases of child exploitation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe digital world is evolving faster than ever, and with it come increasingly sophisticated threats to our children. By the time law enforcement becomes involved, it is often too late to prevent the harm that has already been done to a victim. The Department of Justice is providing these resources to help parents, concerned citizens, and communities recognize the warning signs, take action, and, most importantly, prevent grave harm before it occurs.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETraining can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice\\u2019s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Jersey can also help connect New Jersey organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOrganizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Jersey at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. CEOS\\u0027s prevention resources are available through the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal\\/criminal-ceos\\/prevention\\u0022\\u003EDepartment of Justice\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T15:31:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788463872\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T15:21:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788463293\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-190\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"United States Attorney Robert Frazer Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation Prevention\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/united-states-attorney-robert-frazer-encourages-schools-youth-organizations-partner-doj\",\"uuid\":\"52f0ea85-ed8c-4d46-92e5-2c952d0549a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.\\u0026nbsp; The indictment was filed in August 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENathan Carlos Hernandez, age 20, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\u0026nbsp; Sebastian Michael Waters, age 19, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\u0026nbsp;Tino Sage Roubideaux, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 10 years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Discharging a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence and Aiding and Abetting is a mandatory minimum of 10 years\\u2019 up to Life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the crime of violence of attempted murder or assault with a dangerous weapon.\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person is 15 years imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; The charges also carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to five years following a term of imprisonment, a special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAccording to the charging document, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux were members of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a gang with members and associates located throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and elsewhere.\\u0026nbsp; The gang is alleged to have committed, attempted to commit, and conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving assault, as well as other crimes, including drug dealing and firearms trafficking.\\u0026nbsp; Participation in criminal activity by a GD member (sometimes referred to as \\u201cwork\\u201d), especially violence directed at persons perceived as a threat to the gang, increased the respect accorded to the member and could result in the member\\u2019s elevation and increased status within the gang.\\u0026nbsp; One of the alleged purposes of the gang was to keep victims, other gang members, rivals, and community members in fear of the gang.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux conspired to murder a person, and on January 4, 2026, these defendants located the victim at a business in Sioux Falls and attempted \\u0026nbsp;to murder him by shooting him more than one time.\\u0026nbsp; Two firearms were used in the attack.\\u0026nbsp; As gang members, these defendants sought to maintain or increase their respective position within the Gangster Disciples.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAll defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.\\u0026nbsp; A trial date of October 26, 2026, has been set.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:37:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788446255\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:20:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788441611\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The indictment was filed in August 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Sioux Falls Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Firearms Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/gang-members-indicted-racketeering-involving-attempted-murder-and-firearms-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"9926b53d-fbbc-4496-b021-d747ac051449\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMADISON, WIS. \\u2013 Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Bell, 56, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Bell pleaded guilty to this charge on May 18, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 8, 2022, a woman reported that her gun had been stolen from the trunk of her car. The gun was returned to the woman approximately one year later. DNA testing of the gun revealed Bell\\u2019s DNA on the handgrip and the trigger. At sentencing Bell admitted that he had stolen the gun to pay a drug debt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBell is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions; including convictions for false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and possessing a firearm as a felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt sentencing, Judge Peterson stressed that the goal of sentencing was to protect the community and found that Bell was an acute risk to public safety. Judge Peterson said that Bell\\u2019s pattern of sustained harassment of and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge against Bell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice\\u2019s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:58:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788454717\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\",\"name\":\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:56:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788454567\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdwi\\/pr\\/madison-man-sentenced-more-3-years-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"195c7582-78eb-44ff-a6d3-1bb814a4e98f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Marshall Day,\\u0026nbsp;40,\\u0026nbsp;of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to\\u0026nbsp;108\\u0026nbsp;months in federal prison\\u0026nbsp;in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDay, aka \\u201cKingDaddy89\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;and \\u201cMike LeRoy,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;pleaded March 12, 2026, before\\u0026nbsp;Judge Jia M. Cobb\\u0026nbsp;to one count of transportation of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;In addition to the\\u0026nbsp;108-month prison sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Day to serve\\u0026nbsp;10\\u0026nbsp;years of supervised release and to register as a sex\\u0026nbsp;offender.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, Day logged into a fetish website and\\u0026nbsp;attempted\\u0026nbsp;to arrange a sexual encounter. One of the people\\u0026nbsp;with whom Day\\u0026nbsp;exchanged messages\\u0026nbsp;asked Day if he was \\u201cinto taboo\\u201d because he had a \\u201cgirl in his life.\\u201d Day replied that he was \\u201cvery much into taboo\\u201d and had \\u201cno hard limits.\\u201d As the chat continued, the individual explained that he had a nine-year-old daughter and \\u201cwhen we play its more like a game.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter further text messages,\\u0026nbsp;on October 9,\\u0026nbsp;Day exchanged phone numbers with the person and arranged to meet\\u0026nbsp;in the District\\u2019s Chinatown neighborhood\\u0026nbsp;so that he could\\u0026nbsp;sexually abuse\\u0026nbsp;the\\u0026nbsp;purported girl. On October 10, Day arrived at the prearranged meeting spot. A man sitting nearby asked Day if he was \\u201cMike.\\u201d When Day\\u0026nbsp;indicated\\u0026nbsp;that he was, law enforcement from the\\u0026nbsp;FBI and Metropolitan Police Department\\u2019s\\u0026nbsp;Child Exploitation Task Force\\u0026nbsp;arrested him.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhile traveling from Maryland to the District, Day had his cell phone in his possession. In the phone\\u2019s download folder, Day had stored six videos\\u0026nbsp;depicting child sex abuse\\u0026nbsp;that he had downloaded during the previous two days and a pair of\\u0026nbsp;still images\\u0026nbsp;of child pornography\\u0026nbsp;he had downloaded earlier that year.\\u0026nbsp;Day acknowledged that he had no legal justification for having the files on his phone as he traveled from Maryland into the District that day.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by FBI\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.\\u202fIt was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u202fRichard Kelley.\\u202f\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIt\\u0026nbsp;was brought as part of the Department of Justice\\u0027s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better\\u202flocate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as\\u202fidentify\\u202fand rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u202f\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u202f\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr343\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/twitter.com\\/USAO_DC\\u0022\\u003EX\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.instagram.com\\/usao_dc\\/\\u0022\\u003EInstagram\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.youtube.com\\/@usao_dc\\u0022\\u003EYouTube\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOr at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T16:44:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788468265\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T16:43:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788468185\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMarshall Day,\\u0026nbsp;40,\\u0026nbsp;of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to\\u0026nbsp;108\\u0026nbsp;months in federal prison\\u0026nbsp;in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Largo, Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to Nine Years in Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/largo-maryland-man-sentenced-dc-nine-years-prison-transportation-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"d822fa8e-c4a3-4654-bd6b-b5434cb58aae\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESACRAMENTO, Calif. \\u2014 Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer\\u2019s money, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an Executive Manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing the scheme, he diverted money from the business\\u2019s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client\\u2019s credit card for items the client never ordered and for invoices that did not exist, then transferred those proceeds to himself. Additionally, he instructed clients to tender payments directly to him and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted, or made false entries to the business\\u2019s accounting software.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAbplanalp is scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on Sept. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:44:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788475464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:37:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788475058\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EChristopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer\\u2019s money.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Roseville Man Charged with Defrauding Employer of over $2.3 Million\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edca\\/pr\\/roseville-man-charged-defrauding-employer-over-23-million\",\"uuid\":\"4592e3b1-f91b-4a1a-9d5d-f2d4ba5e9dba\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/servicemembers\\/media\\/1460176\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Eletter\\u003C\\/a\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder Maryland\\u2019s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cRelocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cIf a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration\\u2019s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Department\\u2019s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener\\u0022\\u003Ewww.servicemembers.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EServicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener\\u0022\\u003Elegalassistance.law.af.mil\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:50:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461402\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:52:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457937\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1016\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/servicemembers\\/media\\/1460176\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Eletter\\u003C\\/a\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"5e295118-6b91-4f95-a8d1-4044b5c2a0b2\",\"name\":\"Servicemembers Initiative\"},{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-seeks-relief-maryland-military-families-illegal-fees\",\"uuid\":\"fbb8373d-8c85-4fe2-8149-8addc7e11650\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\u2013 Dondre Hudson, 28, of Cincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on August 22, 2025, Hudson picked up a package containing methamphetamine in Dunbar, West Virginia, and delivered it to a location in St. Albans. As part of his guilty plea, Hudson admitted that he knew the package contained a controlled substance, that he communicated by cell phone with another individual who directed him where to deliver it, and that the individual was a co-conspirator in a methamphetamine trafficking scheme.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHudson further admitted that he became aware of and knowingly and intentionally participated in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy prior to August 2025. Hudson assisted the conspiracy by delivering tens of thousands of dollars to a methamphetamine supplier on multiple occasions. Hudson used his cell phone to facilitate drug trafficking offenses during the conspiracy, coordinating with the co-conspirator and the supplier to facilitate the money deliveries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHudson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and\\u0026nbsp;the Kanawha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao\\/wvs\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;for the Southern District of West Virginia.\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pacer.login.uscourts.gov\\/csologin\\/login.jsf?pscCourtId=WVSDC\\u0026amp;appurl=https:\\/\\/ecf.wvsd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/showpage.pl?16\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-77.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:58:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461904\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"6decd6a7-23cb-4fef-b50c-791f6604191f\",\"name\":\"USAO - West Virginia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:56:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788443801\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdwv\\/pr\\/cincinnati-man-pleads-guilty-federal-drug-crime\",\"uuid\":\"1e58e20b-1cf5-411f-95e7-c28fdcec6c6c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECONCORD \\u2013 Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/media\\/1460166\\/dl\\u0022\\u003Eindicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).\\u0026nbsp;Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years.\\u0026nbsp; Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations.\\u0026nbsp; The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.\\u0026nbsp; In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:09:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788458971\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Hampshire\"},{\"uuid\":\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\",\"name\":\"U.S. Marshals Service\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:06:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788458799\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/pr\\/hampton-man-indicted-failing-register-sex-offender\",\"uuid\":\"9d8a2f18-3ec1-465b-956d-ba349d0f76b1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013 Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents,\\u0026nbsp;from as early as August 2020, and continuing through July 2021, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Blair and others devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by making materially false and fraudulent representations. Blair\\u2019s role in the bank fraud scheme included preparing and submitting fictitious and fraudulent paystubs for his clients in the names of companies to show fabricated income from employers as well as altered bank statements showing vastly overstated account balances. This caused the mortgage lenders to approve and fund mortgage loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair from his clients. The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development \\u2013 Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:58:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788447498\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:20:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788445201\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013 Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Guyanese National Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud Scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/guyanese-national-sentenced-mortgage-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"6ef3f2d3-7d88-4610-943a-e52671207622\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMEDFORD, Ore.\\u2014A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrenton Alexander Van Zoeren, 19, has been charged with assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, and willfully injuring or committing any depredation against property of the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on January 14 and 21, 2026, Van Zoeren damaged a window at the Eugene federal building. On January 28, 2026, Van Zoeren assaulted a Federal Protective Service officer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVan Zoeren made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on December 7, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Van Zoeren faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T19:28:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788478088\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"3c38d032-2199-40bd-9062-4e5453cae5a5\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oregon\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T19:26:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788477987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Creswell Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer and Damaging Federal Property\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-or\\/pr\\/creswell-man-charged-assaulting-federal-officer-and-damaging-federal-property\",\"uuid\":\"0f090c62-cd26-4aef-afc1-016a85894ab8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\u2013 An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPatel admitted that he and his co-conspirators, in aggregate, obtained approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and their illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThrough Patel\\u2019s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield.: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7\\u003Csup\\u003Eth\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, 20, five, 20, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T16:38:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788467895\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T16:36:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788467796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, and an Indian national, pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Indian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Gambling Ring\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/indian-national-pleads-guilty-role-illegal-gambling-ring-1\",\"uuid\":\"d0919d25-a7e3-4e1c-99c5-ce5e02af007b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Carlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cSalazar-Garcia laundered money for Mexican drug traffickers and attempted to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into our country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cBut federal law enforcement officers working collaboratively across agencies and jurisdictions spoiled his scheme, seized his drugs, and haled him into court to face the significant consequences.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDrug traffickers think they can hide behind fake produce companies and secret shipments of electronics, but they are wrong,\\u201d said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. \\u201cCarlos Salazar-Garcia tried to use these schemes to poison our communities and launder over a million dollars, but he underestimated our persistence and partnerships. By working together across borders, HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners successfully dismantled his network, and now he will spend his time in federal prison thinking about the consequences.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhether cocaine is hidden in fruit, electronics, or behind the fa\\u00e7ade of legitimate businesses, drug traffickers will continue looking for new ways to move their poison,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cWhat they cannot hide is the determination of the Homeland Security Task Force and our law enforcement partners. This investigation uncovered a calculated effort to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine, and today\\u2019s sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his role in that operation.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In December 2022, federal agents in Laredo, Texas inspected a shipment from Mexico and located 119 pounds of cocaine concealed among electronic transformers destined for a farmers market in Clayton County, Georgia. The investigation revealed that a sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia coordinated the shipment.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn November 2023, agents at the U.S.\\/Mexico border in McAllen, Texas intercepted approximately 66 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of limes. Agents learned that the limes were destined for another sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia. Additional investigation revealed that, through a variety of financial transactions, Salazar-Garcia and co-defendant Andrea Principe laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EYesterday, Carlos Salazar-Garcia, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine importation, and money laundering charges on April 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAndrea Principe, 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pled guilty on June 30, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She will be sentenced on October 15, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security\\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Amy Palumbo prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:02:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788444159\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:00:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788444024\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECarlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Operator of Sham Produce Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Importation and Money Laundering\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/operator-sham-produce-companies-sentenced-federal-prison-cocaine-importation-and-money\",\"uuid\":\"0d59c84d-efc1-4806-aa73-cd3ec19b3a5e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, a press release posted earlier today, Sept. 3, was mistakenly a reprint of an Aug. 21 press release about a related decision. Below is the correct press release regarding a decision issued on Monday, Aug. 31, in this matter.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in \\u003Cem\\u003ECenter for Biological Diversity v. Burgum\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u2014 one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.\\u2019s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/federal-court-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-obstruct\\u0022\\u003Erelated ruling\\u003C\\/a\\u003E issued last month.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cStates cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress\\u2019s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. \\u201cThe Department is pleased with the court\\u2019s decision. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation\\u2019s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is another victory for American energy independence,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cTwo weeks ago, this same court affirmed the federal government\\u2019s authority to protect energy security from state overreach through a Defense Production Act order restarting this critical domestic source of oil. This week\\u2019s decision protects this critical resource against special interest groups who sought to stymie that same oil production through a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. We are committed to unleashing American energy, as President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice and all federal agencies to do.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing a decade of inactivity, Sable last year sought to restart offshore oil and gas production on Platform Harmony in the Santa Ynez Unit. Plaintiff environmental groups sued, challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)\\u2019s April 2025 decision not to require revision of the development and production plan for Platform Harmony related to Sable\\u2019s restart plans. In its decision dismissing the case for lack of standing, the court held that the plaintiffs have not alleged a procedural injury and their theory of causation is \\u201cfar too hypothetical and attenuated\\u201d and \\u201cnot fairly traceable to BOEM and Sable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe court instead explained that plaintiffs\\u2019 asserted injuries stem from offshore oil and gas operations generally, not from BOEM\\u2019s decision. The court further held that the plaintiffs\\u2019 injuries are not redressable because BOEM has substantial discretion in deciding whether to require revision of the plan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAttorneys with ENRD\\u2019s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T17:50:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788472222\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T17:47:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788472076\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1017\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in \\u003Cem\\u003ECenter for Biological Diversity v. Burgum\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u2014 one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.\\u2019s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/federal-court-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-obstruct\\u0022\\u003Erelated ruling\\u003C\\/a\\u003E issued last month.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Court Dismisses Another Attempt to Stymie Sable Offshore Corporation\\u2019s Oil and Gas Operations\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\",\"name\":\"Environment\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/federal-court-dismisses-another-attempt-stymie-sable-offshore-corporations-oil-and-gas\",\"uuid\":\"cd06caf5-2359-45cf-b65d-88be6178df9b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a significant victory for President Trump\\u2019s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this week affirmed the federal government\\u2019s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a comprehensive decision, the court rejected the State of California\\u2019s radical attempt to shut down the Santa Ynez Pipeline and dismissed efforts by California and environmental groups to impose state\\u2011level barriers designed to obstruct federally mandated operations during a declared national energy emergency.\\u0026nbsp;The court\\u2019s decision ensures that sound federal energy policy \\u2014 not California\\u2019s disruptive anti-energy measures \\u2014 governs operation of this critical infrastructure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cStates cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress\\u2019s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. \\u201cThe Department is pleased with the court\\u2019s decision to affirm this commonsense principle, upholding the Department of Energy\\u2019s lawful and constitutional order under the Defense Production Act. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation\\u2019s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis ruling upholds decisive federal action to protect national security by restarting the flow of 50 million gallons of oil per day when the stability of America\\u2019s energy supply is threatened,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cThe Department of Justice, together with our parters at the Energy, Interior, and Transportation Departments will not allow California or environmental groups to undercut American energy.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis ruling comes at a time when state and local energy policies on the West Coast continue to destabilize regional supply and threaten broader national energy resilience. The Santa Ynez Pipeline transports more than one million barrels of domestically produced crude oil per month from offshore wells into California \\u2014 providing a reliable domestic supply to offset foreign imports and reinforcing the America\\u2019s energy independence.\\u0026nbsp;Its continued operation is also essential to maintaining stable fuel supplies for more than 32 U.S. military installations across the West Coast, supporting operational readiness and ensuring these facilities can meet critical national defense requirements.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe court confirmed that a Defense Production Act order \\u2014 issued by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright under delegated authority from the President \\u2014 lawfully preempts state actions aimed at blocking or delaying Sable Offshore Corporation (Sable)\\u2019s operations of the Santa Ynez Pipeline. The court held that the only agency with authority to oversee the safety of the pipeline is the Department of Transportation\\u2019s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and California\\u2019s efforts to shut down the pipeline amounted to an attempt to override federal authority and undercut essential national energy priorities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey components of the court\\u2019s rulings include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e24583b6e355cb1cccca802171dc7d2a4\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDenial of California\\u2019s motion for a preliminary injunction\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E seeking to suspend Energy Secretary Wright\\u2019s Defense Production Act order requiring operation of the pipeline. The court held that California failed to demonstrate any likelihood of success on the merits of its challenge because the Order is lawful and constitutional.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eee6688e54344c2001d355aac3434f980\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERecognition of the Defense Production Act order\\u2019s preemptive force\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, declaring that federal law bars California\\u2019s Department of Parks and Recreation from pursuing legal actions \\u2014 such as trespass claims \\u2014 that would impede pipeline operations mandated by federal authority.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0ebd0051ddbf8c1e4c718279ff24dc19\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EClarification that state courts may not enforce injunctions that conflict with federal directives\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, as the court addressed efforts by environmental groups to sustain a state\\u2011court injunction.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e46d9bf6fcd2ff0e83e63f17f823545c5\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EModification of the existing federal consent decree\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E to consolidate oversight of pipeline safety and compliance under PHMSA, replacing California\\u2019s Office of the State Fire Marshal to prevent further state\\u2011level interference with federally directed operations.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe decision makes clear that attempts by California and environmental groups to impose new obstacles to critical energy infrastructure \\u2014 despite clear federal findings of urgent national security needs \\u2014 cannot override federal law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice remains committed to enforcing federal law, defending national energy security, and ensuring that vital infrastructure remains free of unlawful state\\u2011imposed barriers. This case was litigated by ENRD.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T15:52:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788465130\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:24:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788459859\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1017\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a significant victory for President Trump\\u2019s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this week affirmed the federal government\\u2019s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Court Again Protects National Energy Security and Rejects Dangerous State Efforts to Obstruct Sable Offshore Corporation\\u2019s Operation of the Santa Ynez Pipeline\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\",\"name\":\"Environment\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/federal-court-again-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-0\",\"uuid\":\"4c71b739-df21-4043-9472-3e9f6eb1fd53\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\u2013 A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESeals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:51:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461518\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:44:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461087\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EVerndale Ray Seals was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtx\\/pr\\/judge-deals-30-year-federal-sentence-texas-felon-who-trafficked-fentanyl-state-prison\",\"uuid\":\"505bc82b-9374-4e8e-bc2e-c9620d8f9b47\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOcala, Florida \\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (\\u201cFCC Coleman\\u201d) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440644\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:02:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440553\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOcala, Florida \\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate Husband\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/polk-county-woman-admits-smuggling-methamphetamine-federal-prison-her-inmate-husband\",\"uuid\":\"5d061465-a95f-4df6-8df2-3adf99ef9e39\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 The final two defendants involved in an armed drug trafficking network affiliated with a criminal street gang were sentenced to federal prison because of Operation Mobile Order, an investigation led by the FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, which resulted in the seizure of dozens of firearms, including a machine gun.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis heavily armed drug trafficking organization was a major threat in Macon, and our region is now safer because every member has been brought to justice,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u201cTargeting dangerous criminal organizations like those dismantled in Operation Mobile Order remains a top priority for our office and law enforcement partners at every level. These offenders have been held accountable for the harm they caused to our community.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cOperation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,\\u201d said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta\\u2019s Macon office. \\u201cThis investigation shows the FBI\\u2019s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence, and fear in our communities. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cOperation Mobile Order represents the best in local and federal law enforcement partnerships,\\u201d said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. \\u201cTogether, FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff\\u2019s Office investigators worked tirelessly to bring this cadre of criminals to justice. Our community is much better off with these peddlers of poison off our streets.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced today, on September 3: \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEddie Reese, 54, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlton Oliver, aka \\u201cAlo,\\u201d aka \\u201cLo,\\u201d 43, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced on August 10:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETanya Card, 51, of Macon, was sentenced to serve six months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on Dec. 2, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced on June 4:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERoddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced on May 19:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERoosevelt Cole, aka \\u201cFroball,\\u201d 52, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 170 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarvin Huff, aka \\u201cBlack,\\u201d 50, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 125 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrayvon Simmons, aka \\u201cAbo,\\u201d 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced to prison on April 2:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAntonyo Daniels, aka \\u201cTony,\\u201d 31, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 250 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced to prison on March 2:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDevonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 155 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaderion Jacobs, aka \\u201cJohnny,\\u201d aka \\u201cJohnny Cain,\\u201d 30, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELadarrious King, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELeroy Mintz, aka \\u201cBooman,\\u201d 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese. Many members of the organization are validated Blue Band Gang (BBG) members who affiliate with the Crips criminal organization. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe main drug distribution site, also known as a trap house, was located on Richard Street in Macon. This busy location functioned similarly to a restaurant, with members of the organization assigned shifts to distribute drugs. Recorded calls captured Reese discussing drug overdoses in the community, claiming that if the drugs causing those overdoses had come from his Richard Street operation, \\u201ceveryone in Macon would be dead.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins, and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richard Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms, a ballistic vest, and $93,247. One of the locations searched included Oliver\\u2019s home on Williamson Road in Macon.\\u0026nbsp; There, agents found a machine gun plus five firearms. In addition, agents found quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine at Oliver\\u2019s. The ballistic vest belonged to Daniels.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immig [...truncated 13350 characters...] legedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"704d175e-07cd-47bf-b003-8f899dbd5426\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFLORENCE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr.,\\u0026nbsp;54, of\\u0026nbsp;Florence, has pleaded guilty to\\u0026nbsp;stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EMercer\\u2019s co-defendant and son, Benjamin Lee Mercer, Jr., 31, of Florence, previously pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that around 2:52 a.m. on May 12, 2024, two men\\u2014later identified as Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr.\\u2014burglarized the Palmetto State Armory, a federal firearms licensee in Florence. They stole 152 firearms. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer in Darlington associated with Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr. and found 15 firearms, all of which were stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. Shortly before executing the search warrant, law enforcement saw Mercer, Sr. get into a truck and leave the trailer. Law enforcement followed Mercer, Sr., but he fled and evaded law enforcement.\\u0026nbsp;During the pursuit, Mercer, Sr. was captured on video discarding a firearm. Law enforcement recovered\\u0026nbsp;the firearm and confirmed\\u0026nbsp;it was stolen from the Palmetto State Armory.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EOn June 17, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled\\u0026nbsp;purchase of 21 firearms from Mercer, Jr. at the Darlington trailer. During the buy, Mercer, Jr. pulled out a handgun, pistol whipped the informant, and threatened to kill the informant. Ultimately, the informant threw their car keys and the buy money on the ground, which Mercer, Jr. took and\\u0026nbsp;then left in the informant\\u2019s car. Law enforcement caught up to Mercer, Jr., and a high-speed chase ensued through Darlington and Florence counties. During the chase, Mercer, Jr. pointed a firearm out\\u0026nbsp;of the driver\\u2019s side window and repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Mercer, Jr. fled to an apartment in Florence, where he barricaded himself\\u0026nbsp;inside but ultimately surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment, where they found a loaded handgun along with the buy money taken from the informant.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EMercer, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp;Mercer, Sr. faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence both defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florence County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Darlington County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Lauren Hummel\\u0026nbsp;is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:37:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457037\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:35:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788456918\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFLORENCE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr.,\\u0026nbsp;54, of\\u0026nbsp;Florence, has pleaded guilty to\\u0026nbsp;stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Florence County Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Firearms from Florence Armory \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/florence-county-men-plead-guilty-stealing-firearms-florence-armory\",\"uuid\":\"7ecc37c3-410c-4d02-8296-5ff781dbf917\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\u0026nbsp;to\\u0026nbsp;possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart\\u2019s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI\\u2019s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:27:32-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788474452\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:23:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788474218\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-230\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/big-timber-man-sentenced-12-years-trafficking-meth\",\"uuid\":\"3a720b4e-0d1a-4aea-82c2-fc4a1ce566e6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\u2014 A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin \\u201cRascal\\u201d Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in October 2025, an investigation began into the Sure\\u00f1o criminal street gang operating in Fresno County. Investigators identified Aranda as a high-ranking Reedley Sure\\u00f1o gang member and conducted three undercover purchases of methamphetamine from him between January and May 2026. On May 28, 2026, agents executed a search warrant at Aranda\\u2019s residence and recovered more methamphetamine along with digital scales, spoons, and baggies. In total, Aranda was found with 297.52 grams of methamphetamine throughout the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman\\u2011Hughes is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Aranda faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Central Valley HSTF\\u0026nbsp;is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of California.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T17:56:32-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788472592\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T17:50:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788472208\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin \\u201cRascal\\u201d Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Gang Member Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute in Fresno County\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edca\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-gang-member-charged-possessing-methamphetamine-intent-distribute-fresno\",\"uuid\":\"246f8e52-04d9-4826-8ea1-5d03001012fb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen\\u2019s Social Security number.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVictor Suazo Reynoso, 69, was sentenced by Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Reynoso was also ordered to pay $18,434 in restitution to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and $54,931 to MassHealth. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-snap-and-social-security-fraud\\u0022\\u003EIn May 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, the defendant pleaded guilty to illegal acquisition of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Reynoso was charged and arrested in March 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EReynoso used the name, birthdate and Social Security number of a United States citizen to apply for and receive a Massachusetts driver\\u2019s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits and $54,000 in MassHealth benefits. SNAP is a federal program administered by the states that provides funds for low-income individuals and families to purchase food. MassHealth is a federal and state program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/us-attorney-leah-b-foley-announces-fraud-coordinators-and-benefit-voter-fraud-team\\u0022\\u003EOn March 26, 2026\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit \\u0026amp; Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\u0022\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement Division\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T17:08:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788469729\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T15:15:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788462943\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen\\u2019s Social Security number.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for SNAP and Social Security Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-prison-snap-and-social-security-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"3c608786-a64c-484e-a7de-4ed855a6c96d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGREENSBORO \\u2013 A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior\\/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOfficers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk\\u2019s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk\\u2019s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was driving, fled, resulting in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office had to forcibly bring the vehicle to a stop. The clerk was found with her hands and ankles bound by shoelaces in the backseat. A gun that TOOMER tossed out the window during his flight was also recovered. The gun was loaded and had one round in the chamber.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETOOMER, who is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, has a criminal record that dates back to 2001, and includes several felony convictions, including Felony Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill, Felony Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Felony Strong Arm Robbery, Felony Burglary, Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Fraud against a Financial Institution, and Felony Possession of Contraband.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Unicoi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office (TN), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Ford Motor Company-Global Security and Vehicle Telematics, the Unicoi Police Department (TN), Erwin Police Department (TN), and Green County Sheriff\\u2019s Office (TN). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T08:26:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788524813\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"1a2a067f-1508-41d5-9fb8-558edd603570\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T08:23:32-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788524612\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Forsyth County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years After Kidnapping Store Clerk in the Course of a Robbery\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdnc\\/pr\\/forsyth-county-man-sentenced-more-24-years-after-kidnapping-store-clerk-course-robbery\",\"uuid\":\"4984a064-bba3-4903-8329-be0bca72382d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\u2013 A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September\\u0026nbsp;1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between August 2025, and November 2025, Stone Thomas Graham, 26, possessed at least three firearms. Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a conviction stemming from an incident in November 2019, during which he discharged at firearm at other people, including police officers. Graham was granted parole for the state offense in May 2024 and discharged from that parole in August 2025, days before he possessed firearms. One of the firearms Graham possessed in 2025 was the same pump-action shotgun he possessed in November 2019.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter completing his term of imprisonment, Graham will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3e1b44f828345724d17f8b5f02aaeb2e\\u0022\\u003Erapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ebc42fb6d5986b2b70af99efa4ac24315\\u0022\\u003Estrong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb27442ef6a87a18c68bcc80b1141a45b\\u0022\\u003Eaccountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSN.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:24:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788452678\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:22:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788452578\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\u2013 A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September\\u0026nbsp;1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Burlington Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdia\\/pr\\/burlington-man-sentenced-over-6-years-federal-prison-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"de859a5e-74e3-47d3-9db2-db7529c893f0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. \\u2013 A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for violating immigration laws.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United Sta [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01HrnHJBYxsn5RXWQJwFZR4V, 3 events)

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.303

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":9},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.514833927154541},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS.\\\\u0026nbsp;The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi\\\\u2019s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi,\\\\u0026nbsp;either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTax fraud isn\\\\u2019t just a numbers game\\\\u2014it\\\\u2019s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,\\\\u201d said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. \\\\u201cThis sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:06:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440772\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440658\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Asset Forfeiture\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/tampa-man-sentenced-46-months-federal-prison-and-ordered-pay-over-700000-internal\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cf777ea7-8b90-4b2a-8bf1-46828e0572e3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization\\\\u2019s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attach\\\\u00e9 Office in Bogot\\\\u00e1 worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:53:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:52:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461529\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Leader \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/homeland-security-task-force-yields-30-year-prison-sentence-colombian-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"10622a9c-12d0-47cb-aea8-5ff1dd12c949\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECLEVELAND \\\\u2013 Today, a federal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter a nearly two-week-long trial in front of U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, Kaprise Sledge, 24, of Warren, and Thomas Sledge, 44, of Youngstown, were found guilty of:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e92996019d140c31fad608ab11ecd1911\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMurder of an Officer and Employee of the United States\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e95b78f70ed40969a63815e5a41943abf\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUsing, Carrying, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to evidence presented to the jury, on March 2, 2024, the two men aided and abetted one another in the premeditated killing of Jont\\\\u2019e Davis, 33. At the time of his murder, Davis was carrying out his official duties as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, in Warren, Ohio, when he was struck by gunfire coming from a gray Dodge Ram truck that drove up next to his parked mail truck. An eyewitness called 911 and identified the vehicle involved in the shooting. Investigators were able to confirm that the truck was registered to Kaprise Sledge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough video surveillance footage and telephone records, investigators were able to establish that Kaprise Sledge and his father, Thomas, stalked Davis along his delivery route for approximately an hour and a half before shooting and killing him.\\\\u0026nbsp;Additionally, during the execution of a search warrant at Kaprise Sledge\\\\u2019s residence, agents located evidence of drug trafficking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10. Both Sledges face a term of up to life imprisonment on the murder charge, and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life imprisonment on the firearms charges. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Postal Inspection Service Cleveland Office and the Warren Police Department investigated the case. The Trumbull County Action Group Drug Task Force, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and Trumbull County Emergency Management also assisted in this investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E Carol Skutnik\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPeter Daly\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBrett Hammond\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESamuel Lioi\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.uspis.gov\\\\/report\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.uspis.gov\\\\/report\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:27:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072061\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:54:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788468887\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Father and Son Convicted for Their Roles in the Murder of a USPS Mail Carrier\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndoh\\\\/pr\\\\/father-and-son-convicted-their-roles-murder-usps-mail-carrier\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b8a7be0a-a58d-49f4-baee-f019874fe4bc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe call comes as the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In an\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal\\\\/media\\\\/1459461\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eopen letter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;issued this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe initiative builds on prevention efforts already underway in New Jersey. Last month, our office obtained an\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/middlesex-county-man-admits-production-and-possession-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eadmission of guilt\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by a defendant who had persuaded and enticed minors to produce and send child pornography. In addition, a defendant was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/philadelphia-county-child-predator-sentenced-27-years-child-exploitation-offenses\\\\u0022\\\\u003Esentenced to 324 months\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for multiple child exploitation offenses.\\\\u0026nbsp; In June, our office secured a\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/child-predator-sentenced-320-months-prison-producing-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003E320 months prison sentence\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for a defendant who was producing child pornography. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to find and prosecute cases of child exploitation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe digital world is evolving faster than ever, and with it come increasingly sophisticated threats to our children. By the time law enforcement becomes involved, it is often too late to prevent the harm that has already been done to a victim. The Department of Justice is providing these resources to help parents, concerned citizens, and communities recognize the warning signs, take action, and, most importantly, prevent grave harm before it occurs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETraining can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice\\\\u2019s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Jersey can also help connect New Jersey organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOrganizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Jersey at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. CEOS\\\\u0027s prevention resources are available through the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal\\\\/criminal-ceos\\\\/prevention\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDepartment of Justice\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:31:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788463872\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:21:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788463293\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-190\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"United States Attorney Robert Frazer Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation Prevention\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/united-states-attorney-robert-frazer-encourages-schools-youth-organizations-partner-doj\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"52f0ea85-ed8c-4d46-92e5-2c952d0549a1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.\\\\u0026nbsp; The indictment was filed in August 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENathan Carlos Hernandez, age 20, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sebastian Michael Waters, age 19, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\\\u0026nbsp;Tino Sage Roubideaux, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 20 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Discharging a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence and Aiding and Abetting is a mandatory minimum of 10 years\\\\u2019 up to Life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the crime of violence of attempted murder or assault with a dangerous weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person is 15 years imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; The charges also carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to five years following a term of imprisonment, a special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAccording to the charging document, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux were members of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a gang with members and associates located throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and elsewhere.\\\\u0026nbsp; The gang is alleged to have committed, attempted to commit, and conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving assault, as well as other crimes, including drug dealing and firearms trafficking.\\\\u0026nbsp; Participation in criminal activity by a GD member (sometimes referred to as \\\\u201cwork\\\\u201d), especially violence directed at persons perceived as a threat to the gang, increased the respect accorded to the member and could result in the member\\\\u2019s elevation and increased status within the gang.\\\\u0026nbsp; One of the alleged purposes of the gang was to keep victims, other gang members, rivals, and community members in fear of the gang.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux conspired to murder a person, and on January 4, 2026, these defendants located the victim at a business in Sioux Falls and attempted \\\\u0026nbsp;to murder him by shooting him more than one time.\\\\u0026nbsp; Two firearms were used in the attack.\\\\u0026nbsp; As gang members, these defendants sought to maintain or increase their respective position within the Gangster Disciples.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAll defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.\\\\u0026nbsp; A trial date of October 26, 2026, has been set.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:37:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788446255\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:20:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788441611\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The indictment was filed in August 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sioux Falls Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Firearms Offenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/gang-members-indicted-racketeering-involving-attempted-murder-and-firearms-offenses\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9926b53d-fbbc-4496-b021-d747ac051449\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMADISON, WIS. \\\\u2013 Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Bell, 56, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Bell pleaded guilty to this charge on May 18, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 8, 2022, a woman reported that her gun had been stolen from the trunk of her car. The gun was returned to the woman approximately one year later. DNA testing of the gun revealed Bell\\\\u2019s DNA on the handgrip and the trigger. At sentencing Bell admitted that he had stolen the gun to pay a drug debt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBell is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions; including convictions for false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and possessing a firearm as a felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt sentencing, Judge Peterson stressed that the goal of sentencing was to protect the community and found that Bell was an acute risk to public safety. Judge Peterson said that Bell\\\\u2019s pattern of sustained harassment of and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge against Bell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:58:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454717\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:56:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454567\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdwi\\\\/pr\\\\/madison-man-sentenced-more-3-years-illegally-possessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"195c7582-78eb-44ff-a6d3-1bb814a4e98f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Marshall Day,\\\\u0026nbsp;40,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to\\\\u0026nbsp;108\\\\u0026nbsp;months in federal prison\\\\u0026nbsp;in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDay, aka \\\\u201cKingDaddy89\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;and \\\\u201cMike LeRoy,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;pleaded March 12, 2026, before\\\\u0026nbsp;Judge Jia M. Cobb\\\\u0026nbsp;to one count of transportation of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;In addition to the\\\\u0026nbsp;108-month prison sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Day to serve\\\\u0026nbsp;10\\\\u0026nbsp;years of supervised release and to register as a sex\\\\u0026nbsp;offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, Day logged into a fetish website and\\\\u0026nbsp;attempted\\\\u0026nbsp;to arrange a sexual encounter. One of the people\\\\u0026nbsp;with whom Day\\\\u0026nbsp;exchanged messages\\\\u0026nbsp;asked Day if he was \\\\u201cinto taboo\\\\u201d because he had a \\\\u201cgirl in his life.\\\\u201d Day replied that he was \\\\u201cvery much into taboo\\\\u201d and had \\\\u201cno hard limits.\\\\u201d As the chat continued, the individual explained that he had a nine-year-old daughter and \\\\u201cwhen we play its more like a game.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter further text messages,\\\\u0026nbsp;on October 9,\\\\u0026nbsp;Day exchanged phone numbers with the person and arranged to meet\\\\u0026nbsp;in the District\\\\u2019s Chinatown neighborhood\\\\u0026nbsp;so that he could\\\\u0026nbsp;sexually abuse\\\\u0026nbsp;the\\\\u0026nbsp;purported girl. On October 10, Day arrived at the prearranged meeting spot. A man sitting nearby asked Day if he was \\\\u201cMike.\\\\u201d When Day\\\\u0026nbsp;indicated\\\\u0026nbsp;that he was, law enforcement from the\\\\u0026nbsp;FBI and Metropolitan Police Department\\\\u2019s\\\\u0026nbsp;Child Exploitation Task Force\\\\u0026nbsp;arrested him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhile traveling from Maryland to the District, Day had his cell phone in his possession. In the phone\\\\u2019s download folder, Day had stored six videos\\\\u0026nbsp;depicting child sex abuse\\\\u0026nbsp;that he had downloaded during the previous two days and a pair of\\\\u0026nbsp;still images\\\\u0026nbsp;of child pornography\\\\u0026nbsp;he had downloaded earlier that year.\\\\u0026nbsp;Day acknowledged that he had no legal justification for having the files on his phone as he traveled from Maryland into the District that day.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by FBI\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.\\\\u202fIt was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u202fRichard Kelley.\\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIt\\\\u0026nbsp;was brought as part of the Department of Justice\\\\u0027s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u0027s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better\\\\u202flocate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as\\\\u202fidentify\\\\u202fand rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u202f\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr343\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/twitter.com\\\\/USAO_DC\\\\u0022\\\\u003EX\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.instagram.com\\\\/usao_dc\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EInstagram\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/@usao_dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYouTube\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOr at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:44:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788468265\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:43:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788468185\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarshall Day,\\\\u0026nbsp;40,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to\\\\u0026nbsp;108\\\\u0026nbsp;months in federal prison\\\\u0026nbsp;in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Largo, Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to Nine Years in Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/largo-maryland-man-sentenced-dc-nine-years-prison-transportation-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d822fa8e-c4a3-4654-bd6b-b5434cb58aae\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESACRAMENTO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer\\\\u2019s money, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an Executive Manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing the scheme, he diverted money from the business\\\\u2019s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client\\\\u2019s credit card for items the client never ordered and for invoices that did not exist, then transferred those proceeds to himself. Additionally, he instructed clients to tender payments directly to him and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted, or made false entries to the business\\\\u2019s accounting software.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAbplanalp is scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on Sept. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:44:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475464\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:37:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475058\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChristopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer\\\\u2019s money.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Roseville Man Charged with Defrauding Employer of over $2.3 Million\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/roseville-man-charged-defrauding-employer-over-23-million\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4592e3b1-f91b-4a1a-9d5d-f2d4ba5e9dba\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder Maryland\\\\u2019s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRelocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cIf a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration\\\\u2019s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Department\\\\u2019s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.servicemembers.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EServicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Elegalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:50:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461402\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:52:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457937\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1016\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5e295118-6b91-4f95-a8d1-4044b5c2a0b2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Servicemembers Initiative\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-seeks-relief-maryland-military-families-illegal-fees\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fbb8373d-8c85-4fe2-8149-8addc7e11650\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\\\u2013 Dondre Hudson, 28, of Cincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on August 22, 2025, Hudson picked up a package containing methamphetamine in Dunbar, West Virginia, and delivered it to a location in St. Albans. As part of his guilty plea, Hudson admitted that he knew the package contained a controlled substance, that he communicated by cell phone with another individual who directed him where to deliver it, and that the individual was a co-conspirator in a methamphetamine trafficking scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHudson further admitted that he became aware of and knowingly and intentionally participated in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy prior to August 2025. Hudson assisted the conspiracy by delivering tens of thousands of dollars to a methamphetamine supplier on multiple occasions. Hudson used his cell phone to facilitate drug trafficking offenses during the conspiracy, coordinating with the co-conspirator and the supplier to facilitate the money deliveries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHudson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and\\\\u0026nbsp;the Kanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/wvs\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Southern District of West Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.login.uscourts.gov\\\\/csologin\\\\/login.jsf?pscCourtId=WVSDC\\\\u0026amp;appurl=https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.wvsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/showpage.pl?16\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-77.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:58:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461904\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6decd6a7-23cb-4fef-b50c-791f6604191f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:56:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788443801\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdwv\\\\/pr\\\\/cincinnati-man-pleads-guilty-federal-drug-crime\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1e58e20b-1cf5-411f-95e7-c28fdcec6c6c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONCORD \\\\u2013 Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/media\\\\/1460166\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).\\\\u0026nbsp;Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations.\\\\u0026nbsp; The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:09:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458971\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Hampshire\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"U.S. Marshals Service\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:06:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458799\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/pr\\\\/hampton-man-indicted-failing-register-sex-offender\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9d8a2f18-3ec1-465b-956d-ba349d0f76b1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013 Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents,\\\\u0026nbsp;from as early as August 2020, and continuing through July 2021, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Blair and others devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by making materially false and fraudulent representations. Blair\\\\u2019s role in the bank fraud scheme included preparing and submitting fictitious and fraudulent paystubs for his clients in the names of companies to show fabricated income from employers as well as altered bank statements showing vastly overstated account balances. This caused the mortgage lenders to approve and fund mortgage loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair from his clients. The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:58:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788447498\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:20:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788445201\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013 Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Guyanese National Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/guyanese-national-sentenced-mortgage-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6ef3f2d3-7d88-4610-943a-e52671207622\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMEDFORD, Ore.\\\\u2014A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrenton Alexander Van Zoeren, 19, has been charged with assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, and willfully injuring or committing any depredation against property of the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on January 14 and 21, 2026, Van Zoeren damaged a window at the Eugene federal building. On January 28, 2026, Van Zoeren assaulted a Federal Protective Service officer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVan Zoeren made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on December 7, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Van Zoeren faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:28:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788478088\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c38d032-2199-40bd-9062-4e5453cae5a5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oregon\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:26:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788477987\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Creswell Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer and Damaging Federal Property\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-or\\\\/pr\\\\/creswell-man-charged-assaulting-federal-officer-and-damaging-federal-property\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0f090c62-cd26-4aef-afc1-016a85894ab8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPatel admitted that he and his co-conspirators, in aggregate, obtained approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and their illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough Patel\\\\u2019s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield.: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, 20, five, 20, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:38:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788467895\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:36:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788467796\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, and an Indian national, pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Indian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Gambling Ring\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/indian-national-pleads-guilty-role-illegal-gambling-ring-1\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0919d25-a7e3-4e1c-99c5-ce5e02af007b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Carlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cSalazar-Garcia laundered money for Mexican drug traffickers and attempted to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into our country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cBut federal law enforcement officers working collaboratively across agencies and jurisdictions spoiled his scheme, seized his drugs, and haled him into court to face the significant consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDrug traffickers think they can hide behind fake produce companies and secret shipments of electronics, but they are wrong,\\\\u201d said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. \\\\u201cCarlos Salazar-Garcia tried to use these schemes to poison our communities and launder over a million dollars, but he underestimated our persistence and partnerships. By working together across borders, HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners successfully dismantled his network, and now he will spend his time in federal prison thinking about the consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhether cocaine is hidden in fruit, electronics, or behind the fa\\\\u00e7ade of legitimate businesses, drug traffickers will continue looking for new ways to move their poison,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cWhat they cannot hide is the determination of the Homeland Security Task Force and our law enforcement partners. This investigation uncovered a calculated effort to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine, and today\\\\u2019s sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his role in that operation.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In December 2022, federal agents in Laredo, Texas inspected a shipment from Mexico and located 119 pounds of cocaine concealed among electronic transformers destined for a farmers market in Clayton County, Georgia. The investigation revealed that a sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia coordinated the shipment.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn November 2023, agents at the U.S.\\\\/Mexico border in McAllen, Texas intercepted approximately 66 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of limes. Agents learned that the limes were destined for another sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia. Additional investigation revealed that, through a variety of financial transactions, Salazar-Garcia and co-defendant Andrea Principe laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYesterday, Carlos Salazar-Garcia, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine importation, and money laundering charges on April 20, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndrea Principe, 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pled guilty on June 30, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She will be sentenced on October 15, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Amy Palumbo prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:02:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788444159\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:00:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788444024\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECarlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Operator of Sham Produce Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Importation and Money Laundering\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/operator-sham-produce-companies-sentenced-federal-prison-cocaine-importation-and-money\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d59c84d-efc1-4806-aa73-cd3ec19b3a5e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote, a press release posted earlier today, Sept. 3, was mistakenly a reprint of an Aug. 21 press release about a related decision. Below is the correct press release regarding a decision issued on Monday, Aug. 31, in this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ECenter for Biological Diversity v. Burgum\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u2014 one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.\\\\u2019s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-obstruct\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erelated ruling\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E issued last month.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStates cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress\\\\u2019s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,\\\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. \\\\u201cThe Department is pleased with the court\\\\u2019s decision. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation\\\\u2019s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis is another victory for American energy independence,\\\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\\\u201cTwo weeks ago, this same court affirmed the federal government\\\\u2019s authority to protect energy security from state overreach through a Defense Production Act order restarting this critical domestic source of oil. This week\\\\u2019s decision protects this critical resource against special interest groups who sought to stymie that same oil production through a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. We are committed to unleashing American energy, as President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice and all federal agencies to do.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing a decade of inactivity, Sable last year sought to restart offshore oil and gas production on Platform Harmony in the Santa Ynez Unit. Plaintiff environmental groups sued, challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)\\\\u2019s April 2025 decision not to require revision of the development and production plan for Platform Harmony related to Sable\\\\u2019s restart plans. In its decision dismissing the case for lack of standing, the court held that the plaintiffs have not alleged a procedural injury and their theory of causation is \\\\u201cfar too hypothetical and attenuated\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cnot fairly traceable to BOEM and Sable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe court instead explained that plaintiffs\\\\u2019 asserted injuries stem from offshore oil and gas operations generally, not from BOEM\\\\u2019s decision. The court further held that the plaintiffs\\\\u2019 injuries are not redressable because BOEM has substantial discretion in deciding whether to require revision of the plan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAttorneys with ENRD\\\\u2019s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:50:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472222\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:47:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472076\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1017\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ECenter for Biological Diversity v. Burgum\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u2014 one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.\\\\u2019s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-obstruct\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erelated ruling\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E issued last month.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Court Dismisses Another Attempt to Stymie Sable Offshore Corporation\\\\u2019s Oil and Gas Operations\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-dismisses-another-attempt-stymie-sable-offshore-corporations-oil-and-gas\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cd06caf5-2359-45cf-b65d-88be6178df9b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a significant victory for President Trump\\\\u2019s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this week affirmed the federal government\\\\u2019s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a comprehensive decision, the court rejected the State of California\\\\u2019s radical attempt to shut down the Santa Ynez Pipeline and dismissed efforts by California and environmental groups to impose state\\\\u2011level barriers designed to obstruct federally mandated operations during a declared national energy emergency.\\\\u0026nbsp;The court\\\\u2019s decision ensures that sound federal energy policy \\\\u2014 not California\\\\u2019s disruptive anti-energy measures \\\\u2014 governs operation of this critical infrastructure.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStates cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress\\\\u2019s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,\\\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. \\\\u201cThe Department is pleased with the court\\\\u2019s decision to affirm this commonsense principle, upholding the Department of Energy\\\\u2019s lawful and constitutional order under the Defense Production Act. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation\\\\u2019s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis ruling upholds decisive federal action to protect national security by restarting the flow of 50 million gallons of oil per day when the stability of America\\\\u2019s energy supply is threatened,\\\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\\\u201cThe Department of Justice, together with our parters at the Energy, Interior, and Transportation Departments will not allow California or environmental groups to undercut American energy.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis ruling comes at a time when state and local energy policies on the West Coast continue to destabilize regional supply and threaten broader national energy resilience. The Santa Ynez Pipeline transports more than one million barrels of domestically produced crude oil per month from offshore wells into California \\\\u2014 providing a reliable domestic supply to offset foreign imports and reinforcing the America\\\\u2019s energy independence.\\\\u0026nbsp;Its continued operation is also essential to maintaining stable fuel supplies for more than 32 U.S. military installations across the West Coast, supporting operational readiness and ensuring these facilities can meet critical national defense requirements.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe court confirmed that a Defense Production Act order \\\\u2014 issued by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright under delegated authority from the President \\\\u2014 lawfully preempts state actions aimed at blocking or delaying Sable Offshore Corporation (Sable)\\\\u2019s operations of the Santa Ynez Pipeline. The court held that the only agency with authority to oversee the safety of the pipeline is the Department of Transportation\\\\u2019s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and California\\\\u2019s efforts to shut down the pipeline amounted to an attempt to override federal authority and undercut essential national energy priorities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKey components of the court\\\\u2019s rulings include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e24583b6e355cb1cccca802171dc7d2a4\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDenial of California\\\\u2019s motion for a preliminary injunction\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E seeking to suspend Energy Secretary Wright\\\\u2019s Defense Production Act order requiring operation of the pipeline. The court held that California failed to demonstrate any likelihood of success on the merits of its challenge because the Order is lawful and constitutional.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eee6688e54344c2001d355aac3434f980\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERecognition of the Defense Production Act order\\\\u2019s preemptive force\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, declaring that federal law bars California\\\\u2019s Department of Parks and Recreation from pursuing legal actions \\\\u2014 such as trespass claims \\\\u2014 that would impede pipeline operations mandated by federal authority.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0ebd0051ddbf8c1e4c718279ff24dc19\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EClarification that state courts may not enforce injunctions that conflict with federal directives\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, as the court addressed efforts by environmental groups to sustain a state\\\\u2011court injunction.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e46d9bf6fcd2ff0e83e63f17f823545c5\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EModification of the existing federal consent decree\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E to consolidate oversight of pipeline safety and compliance under PHMSA, replacing California\\\\u2019s Office of the State Fire Marshal to prevent further state\\\\u2011level interference with federally directed operations.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe decision makes clear that attempts by California and environmental groups to impose new obstacles to critical energy infrastructure \\\\u2014 despite clear federal findings of urgent national security needs \\\\u2014 cannot override federal law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice remains committed to enforcing federal law, defending national energy security, and ensuring that vital infrastructure remains free of unlawful state\\\\u2011imposed barriers. This case was litigated by ENRD.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:52:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788465130\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:24:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788459859\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1017\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a significant victory for President Trump\\\\u2019s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this week affirmed the federal government\\\\u2019s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Court Again Protects National Energy Security and Rejects Dangerous State Efforts to Obstruct Sable Offshore Corporation\\\\u2019s Operation of the Santa Ynez Pipeline\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-again-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c71b739-df21-4043-9472-3e9f6eb1fd53\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\\\u2013 A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:51:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461518\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:44:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461087\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVerndale Ray Seals was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/judge-deals-30-year-federal-sentence-texas-felon-who-trafficked-fentanyl-state-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"505bc82b-9374-4e8e-bc2e-c9620d8f9b47\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (\\\\u201cFCC Coleman\\\\u201d) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440644\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:02:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440553\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate Husband\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/polk-county-woman-admits-smuggling-methamphetamine-federal-prison-her-inmate-husband\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d061465-a95f-4df6-8df2-3adf99ef9e39\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 The final two defendants involved in an armed drug trafficking network affiliated with a criminal street gang were sentenced to federal prison because of Operation Mobile Order, an investigation led by the FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, which resulted in the seizure of dozens of firearms, including a machine gun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis heavily armed drug trafficking organization was a major threat in Macon, and our region is now safer because every member has been brought to justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u201cTargeting dangerous criminal organizations like those dismantled in Operation Mobile Order remains a top priority for our office and law enforcement partners at every level. These offenders have been held accountable for the harm they caused to our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOperation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,\\\\u201d said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta\\\\u2019s Macon office. \\\\u201cThis investigation shows the FBI\\\\u2019s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence, and fear in our communities. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOperation Mobile Order represents the best in local and federal law enforcement partnerships,\\\\u201d said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. \\\\u201cTogether, FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigators worked tirelessly to bring this cadre of criminals to justice. Our community is much better off with these peddlers of poison off our streets.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced today, on September 3: \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEddie Reese, 54, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlton Oliver, aka \\\\u201cAlo,\\\\u201d aka \\\\u201cLo,\\\\u201d 43, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced on August 10:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETanya Card, 51, of Macon, was sentenced to serve six months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced on June 4:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced on May 19:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoosevelt Cole, aka \\\\u201cFroball,\\\\u201d 52, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 170 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarvin Huff, aka \\\\u201cBlack,\\\\u201d 50, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 125 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrayvon Simmons, aka \\\\u201cAbo,\\\\u201d 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced to prison on April 2:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonyo Daniels, aka \\\\u201cTony,\\\\u201d 31, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 250 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced to prison on March 2:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDevonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 155 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaderion Jacobs, aka \\\\u201cJohnny,\\\\u201d aka \\\\u201cJohnny Cain,\\\\u201d 30, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELadarrious King, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELeroy Mintz, aka \\\\u201cBooman,\\\\u201d 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese. Many members of the organization are validated Blue Band Gang (BBG) members who affiliate with the Crips criminal organization. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe main drug distribution site, also known as a trap house, was located on Richard Street in Macon. This busy location functioned similarly to a restaurant, with members of the organization assigned shifts to distribute drugs. Recorded calls captured Reese discussing drug overdoses in the community, claiming that if the drugs causing those overdoses had come from his Richard Street operation, \\\\u201ceveryone in Macon would be dead.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins, and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richard Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms, a ballistic vest, and $93,247. One of the locations searched included Oliver\\\\u2019s home on Williamson Road in Macon.\\\\u0026nbsp; There, agents found a machine gun plus five firearms. In addition, agents found quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine at Oliver\\\\u2019s. The ballistic vest belonged to Daniels.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immig\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nlegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"704d175e-07cd-47bf-b003-8f899dbd5426\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFLORENCE, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr.,\\\\u0026nbsp;54, of\\\\u0026nbsp;Florence, has pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EMercer\\\\u2019s co-defendant and son, Benjamin Lee Mercer, Jr., 31, of Florence, previously pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that around 2:52 a.m. on May 12, 2024, two men\\\\u2014later identified as Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr.\\\\u2014burglarized the Palmetto State Armory, a federal firearms licensee in Florence. They stole 152 firearms. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer in Darlington associated with Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr. and found 15 firearms, all of which were stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. Shortly before executing the search warrant, law enforcement saw Mercer, Sr. get into a truck and leave the trailer. Law enforcement followed Mercer, Sr., but he fled and evaded law enforcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;During the pursuit, Mercer, Sr. was captured on video discarding a firearm. Law enforcement recovered\\\\u0026nbsp;the firearm and confirmed\\\\u0026nbsp;it was stolen from the Palmetto State Armory.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EOn June 17, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled\\\\u0026nbsp;purchase of 21 firearms from Mercer, Jr. at the Darlington trailer. During the buy, Mercer, Jr. pulled out a handgun, pistol whipped the informant, and threatened to kill the informant. Ultimately, the informant threw their car keys and the buy money on the ground, which Mercer, Jr. took and\\\\u0026nbsp;then left in the informant\\\\u2019s car. Law enforcement caught up to Mercer, Jr., and a high-speed chase ensued through Darlington and Florence counties. During the chase, Mercer, Jr. pointed a firearm out\\\\u0026nbsp;of the driver\\\\u2019s side window and repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Mercer, Jr. fled to an apartment in Florence, where he barricaded himself\\\\u0026nbsp;inside but ultimately surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment, where they found a loaded handgun along with the buy money taken from the informant.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EMercer, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp;Mercer, Sr. faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence both defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florence County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Darlington County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Lauren Hummel\\\\u0026nbsp;is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:37:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457037\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Carolina\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:35:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788456918\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFLORENCE, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr.,\\\\u0026nbsp;54, of\\\\u0026nbsp;Florence, has pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Florence County Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Firearms from Florence Armory \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sc\\\\/pr\\\\/florence-county-men-plead-guilty-stealing-firearms-florence-armory\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7ecc37c3-410c-4d02-8296-5ff781dbf917\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart\\\\u2019s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI\\\\u2019s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:27:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474452\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:23:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474218\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-230\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/big-timber-man-sentenced-12-years-trafficking-meth\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a720b4e-0d1a-4aea-82c2-fc4a1ce566e6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\\\u2014 A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin \\\\u201cRascal\\\\u201d Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in October 2025, an investigation began into the Sure\\\\u00f1o criminal street gang operating in Fresno County. Investigators identified Aranda as a high-ranking Reedley Sure\\\\u00f1o gang member and conducted three undercover purchases of methamphetamine from him between January and May 2026. On May 28, 2026, agents executed a search warrant at Aranda\\\\u2019s residence and recovered more methamphetamine along with digital scales, spoons, and baggies. In total, Aranda was found with 297.52 grams of methamphetamine throughout the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman\\\\u2011Hughes is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Aranda faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Central Valley HSTF\\\\u0026nbsp;is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of California.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:56:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472592\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:50:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472208\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin \\\\u201cRascal\\\\u201d Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Gang Member Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute in Fresno County\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-gang-member-charged-possessing-methamphetamine-intent-distribute-fresno\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"246f8e52-04d9-4826-8ea1-5d03001012fb\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen\\\\u2019s Social Security number.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictor Suazo Reynoso, 69, was sentenced by Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Reynoso was also ordered to pay $18,434 in restitution to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and $54,931 to MassHealth. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-snap-and-social-security-fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn May 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, the defendant pleaded guilty to illegal acquisition of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Reynoso was charged and arrested in March 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EReynoso used the name, birthdate and Social Security number of a United States citizen to apply for and receive a Massachusetts driver\\\\u2019s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits and $54,000 in MassHealth benefits. SNAP is a federal program administered by the states that provides funds for low-income individuals and families to purchase food. MassHealth is a federal and state program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorney-leah-b-foley-announces-fraud-coordinators-and-benefit-voter-fraud-team\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn March 26, 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit \\\\u0026amp; Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:08:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788469729\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:15:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788462943\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen\\\\u2019s Social Security number.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for SNAP and Social Security Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-prison-snap-and-social-security-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c608786-a64c-484e-a7de-4ed855a6c96d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREENSBORO \\\\u2013 A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior\\\\/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was driving, fled, resulting in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office had to forcibly bring the vehicle to a stop. The clerk was found with her hands and ankles bound by shoelaces in the backseat. A gun that TOOMER tossed out the window during his flight was also recovered. The gun was loaded and had one round in the chamber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOOMER, who is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, has a criminal record that dates back to 2001, and includes several felony convictions, including Felony Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill, Felony Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Felony Strong Arm Robbery, Felony Burglary, Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Fraud against a Financial Institution, and Felony Possession of Contraband.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office (TN), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Ford Motor Company-Global Security and Vehicle Telematics, the Unicoi Police Department (TN), Erwin Police Department (TN), and Green County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office (TN). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T08:26:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788524813\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1a2a067f-1508-41d5-9fb8-558edd603570\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T08:23:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788524612\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Forsyth County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years After Kidnapping  Store Clerk in the Course of a Robbery\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/forsyth-county-man-sentenced-more-24-years-after-kidnapping-store-clerk-course-robbery\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4984a064-bba3-4903-8329-be0bca72382d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September\\\\u0026nbsp;1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between August 2025, and November 2025, Stone Thomas Graham, 26, possessed at least three firearms. Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a conviction stemming from an incident in November 2019, during which he discharged at firearm at other people, including police officers. Graham was granted parole for the state offense in May 2024 and discharged from that parole in August 2025, days before he possessed firearms. One of the firearms Graham possessed in 2025 was the same pump-action shotgun he possessed in November 2019.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter completing his term of imprisonment, Graham will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3e1b44f828345724d17f8b5f02aaeb2e\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebc42fb6d5986b2b70af99efa4ac24315\\\\u0022\\\\u003Estrong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb27442ef6a87a18c68bcc80b1141a45b\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eaccountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov\\\\/PSN.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:24:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788452678\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:22:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788452578\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September\\\\u0026nbsp;1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Burlington Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdia\\\\/pr\\\\/burlington-man-sentenced-over-6-years-federal-prison-firearm-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de859a5e-74e3-47d3-9db2-db7529c893f0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for violating immigration laws.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United Sta\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.498452906
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01K3A1fDvsN257p8mBLhWDn4

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases, page 4 of 50-item pages", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0069

(no result)

Tool Result E0070

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":4},\"executionTime\":2.5043408870697021},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 The United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men\\u2019s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring this investigation, which will focus on the conditions of the facility itself and not the actions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff\\u2019s Department deputies who staff it, the Justice Department will determine whether the County has violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Personals Act (CRIPA), a federal statute intended to protect the rights of people incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, among other state and locally run institutions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhether a person is held in a county jail, awaiting trial, or after conviction, the environmental conditions in that jail need to meet constitutional standards,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. \\u201cThe Civil Rights Division is pleased to partner with the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office in its investigation of Los Angeles County\\u2019s Men\\u2019s Central Jail to determine whether the County meets those constitutional conditions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLos Angeles County has a constitutional duty to provide safe, humane, and habitable conditions at Men\\u2019s Central Jail,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\u201cWe have reached no conclusions, but these concerns warrant a thorough investigation. If the evidence reveals systemic violations, we will act.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Justice Department has not reached any conclusion regarding allegations in this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis new investigation is separate from a 2015 settlement in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. County of Los Angeles\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, (C.D. Cal., 15cv5903), which was related to mental health care provided at Los Angeles County jails.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIndividuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\/report\\/\\u0022\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\/report\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Julie A. Hamill of the Civil Division\\u2019s Civil Rights Section is handling this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:55:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059303\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:23:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981835\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-155\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men\\u2019s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department Notifies Los Angeles County of Investigation into Whether Conditions at Downtown L.A. Jail Violate Constitution\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/justice-department-notifies-los-angeles-county-investigation-whether-conditions\",\"uuid\":\"f83f1624-dfb5-46da-a5ca-9dfda6117c16\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday found a St. Louis County felon caught with two guns guilty of a firearm charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence and testimony at the trial, which started Tuesday, showed that a Hazelwood police officer stopped Paris D. McPeters on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stay in his lane. After learning that McPeters had an active warrant, the officer arrested him. \\u0026nbsp;Before the vehicle was towed, the officer asked McPeters whether there were guns or drugs in the vehicle and McPeters responded, \\u201cyeah.\\u201d A search revealed a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine, five additional loaded large capacity magazines, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with a loaded 50 round drum magazine and extra ammunition, evidence and testimony showed. McPeters has numerous prior convictions. As a felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460821\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/ex_3screenshot_2026-09-09_142849.png?itok=dMPaNNE2\\u0022 width=\\u00221238\\u0022 height=\\u0022710\\u0022 alt=\\u0022A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\u0022 title=\\u0022Exhibit 3\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EMcPeters, 44, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 9. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Christian Goeke and Joseph Green are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:32:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788989579\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:26:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788989210\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460821\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"51c611b3-558c-44ff-96f2-9e044383bcd4\"},\"alt\":\"A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\",\"title\":\"Exhibit 3\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EParis D. McPeters was caught with a rifle, a pistol and drum magazines.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jurors Convict St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns, Drum Magazines\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/jurors-convict-st-louis-county-felon-caught-guns-drum-magazines\",\"uuid\":\"c62e8cb2-66ca-4c9b-a499-da822758e8d9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bryan Gutierrez, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween December 2024 and April 2025, Gutierrez conspired with co-defendant Antonio Rivera-Perez and others to sell fentanyl. In February, March, and April of 2025, investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Gutierrez. On April 22, 2025, a search warrant was executed at the Langfield Drive residence of co-defendant Rivera-Perez, during which law enforcement seized approximately 1,072 grams of powder cocaine, 198 grams of crack cocaine, and 190 grams of fentanyl, a firearm, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and approximately $3,500 in cash.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAntonio Rivera-Perez was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 60 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett Fitzsimmons and Katerina Powers. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E#\\u0026nbsp;#\\u0026nbsp;#\\u0026nbsp;#\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:59:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994788\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:57:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994635\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bryan Gutierrez, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Buffalo man going to prison for his role in narcotics conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/buffalo-man-going-prison-his-role-narcotics-conspiracy-0\",\"uuid\":\"1ed9c848-5faf-4a68-9048-f4849279ebd7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESOUTH BEND \\u2013 Rodoundy Smith, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2027.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office.\\u0026nbsp;The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew A. Krumwied, Joseph M. Barrier, and Lydia T. Lucius.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:21:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788988890\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"27450eca-820f-409c-ae9c-7d89d90bef92\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:18:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788988701\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"South Bend Man Found Guilty by Jury for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndin\\/pr\\/south-bend-man-found-guilty-jury-unlawful-possession-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"71213de1-86e0-4ff6-8d4a-ef6bcf79885f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\u2014 Sean Michael Hunt, 51, of San Francisco, was sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, by U.S.\\u0026nbsp;District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S.\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on May 17, 2010, Hunt pleaded guilty to receiving CSAM in Fresno. After serving his prison sentence, he relocated to San Francisco and began serving a lifetime term of supervised release. In March 2024, during a search of Hunt\\u2019s residence, Hunt\\u2019s probation officer found two laptops, three iPhones and one iPad. On the devices were more than 10,000 still images and 75 videos of CSAM. Hunt was charged with violating the conditions of his release and was additionally charged with possession of CSAM.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Jan. 26, 2026, Hunt pleaded guilty to the violation of supervised release and to possession of CSAM.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the cases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\/psc.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:03:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788987823\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T17:01:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788987681\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESean Michael Hunt, 51, of San Francisco, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"San Francisco man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for child exploitation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edca\\/pr\\/san-francisco-man-sentenced-more-12-years-prison-child-exploitation\",\"uuid\":\"cf4cc275-7852-4bb2-a942-0a2bde22559d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 James Soriano, a former public official at the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, Soriano admitted he accepted bribes from defense contractors in the form of lavish meals, employment opportunities for family members and friends, and tickets to premier sporting events. In exchange, he used his position to help the contractors secure and maintain hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESoriano also admitted to filing false tax returns in connection with the bribes he received.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson ordered Soriano to forfeit $209,527.51 and pay $18,722.40 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to Soriano\\u2019s plea agreement, the defense contractors \\u2013 acting through their presidents, officers, and employees \\u2013 gave various things of value to Soriano, including dinners at Ruth\\u2019s Chris, Island Prime, and Fogo de Ch\\u00e3o; tickets to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, 2018 World Series, and 2019 Superbowl; and jobs for Soriano\\u2019s family and friends, including Soriano\\u2019s wife and Soriano\\u2019s family friend, Liberty Gutierrez, who gave Soriano $2,000 a month in cash from her salary at one of the companies working under a defense contract.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn return, Soriano took official action to aid his benefactors, such as allowing defense contractors to draft government documents in competitive and non-competitive procurements, submitting those documents as part of the procurement process, and advocating for their selection as defense contractors. Soriano also willfully failed to disclose the cash payments he received from Gutierrez on his federal tax returns.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to Soriano\\u2019s plea agreement, from approximately March 2016 through at least October 2019, Soriano and a coworker, Dawnell Parker, received bribes from Philip Flores, the president and CEO of Intellipeak Solutions, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia.\\u0026nbsp; Soriano also admitted that from approximately May 2015 through at least October 2019, he separately received bribes from another defense contractor, with offices in San Diego and Stafford, Virginia, who gave him things of value, such as expensive dinners, a job for his wife, and rounds of golf at a private country club.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFurther, according to Soriano\\u2019s plea agreement, from approximately June 2014 through at least October 2019, Soriano received bribes from Russell Thurston, the Vice President of Cambridge International Systems, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.\\u0026nbsp; In return for these bribes, Soriano used various methods to steer contracts to these defense contractors and kept his contracting activities hidden from the Naval Information Warfare Center.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCorruption in federal procurement undermines fair competition and cheats law-abiding businesses,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. \\u201cThis is a strong sentence that proves corrupt officials will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe sentencing of Mr. Soriano should serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to enrich themselves through fraudulent contracting practices,\\u201d said John E. Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of War Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. \\u201cThis type of criminal behavior undermines the Department or War\\u2019s procurement system and erodes public trust. DCIS will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute public corruption affecting America\\u2019s Warfighters.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMr. Soriano abused his position of trust to benefit favored contractors and undermine the integrity of the procurement process,\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Merkal of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. \\u201cThis sentencing reinforces our unwavering commitment to holding public officials accountable when they betray the public trust for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case shows how greed and corruption drive people to exploit public systems for personal gain,\\u201d said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge with IRS Criminal Investigation\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\u201cIRS\\u2011CI\\u2019s financial expertise allows us to cut through even the most complex schemes, follow the money, and hold those who betray the public trust accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Numbers 23-cr-2282-TWR-1 and 24-cr-341-TWR-1\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames Soriano\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Age: 65\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Las Vegas, NV\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum penalties (per count): Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFalse Statements in Tax Returns \\u2013 Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7206(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum penalties: Three years in prison; $100,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003E\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCIES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDefense Criminal Investigative Service\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENaval Criminal Investigative Service\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESmall Business Administration \\u2013 Office of Inspector General\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EInternal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDepartment of Health and Human Services \\u2013 Office of Inspector General\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EIf you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u0027Fraud Division\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T16:23:06-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788985386\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T16:20:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788985208\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0909-Soriano\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 James Soriano, a former public official at the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. According to his plea agreement, Soriano admitted he accepted bribes from defense contractors in the form of lavish meals, employment opportunities for family members and friends, and tickets to premier sporting events. In exchange, he used his position to help the contractors secure and maintain hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Navy Civilian Employee Sentenced to 72 Months for Bribery and Tax Fraud Schemes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"351fcc4e-1f5b-4490-b848-db30da15059a\",\"name\":\"Public Corruption\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-navy-civilian-employee-sentenced-72-months-bribery-and-tax-fraud-schemes\",\"uuid\":\"fdaa517a-72ee-49e0-80b1-a4be03539011\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mekfira Hussein and Abduljabar Hussein have been sentenced to a total of 97 months in prison for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Husseins submitted fraudulent claims for meals and ultimately obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendants were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel on September 8, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMekfira Hussein\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 42, of Shakopee, Minnesota, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/shakopee-woman-pleads-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003EJanuary 31, 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAbduljabar Hussein\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 45,\\u0026nbsp;of Shakopee, Minnesota,\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/four-more-defendants-plead-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003EFebruary 5, 2025\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children. Their sentences today reflect my office\\u2019s commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable,\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer prosecuted these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote: Press releases on the defendants\\u2019 indictment (\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/shakopee-couple-indicted-their-roles-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOctober 18, 2022\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E) linked here.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:47:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994037\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Minnesota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T18:46:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788993976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Couple in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months\\u2019 Imprisonment\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/couple-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme-sentenced-97-months-imprisonment\",\"uuid\":\"95e3ce0e-765a-4e68-9b0d-5857276e015d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962761\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY \\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959888\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California\\u2019s history.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\u2019s most vulnerable residents,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\u201cHHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. \\u201cToday\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\u2019s our department\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\u2019s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Paul Richard Randall\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, No. CR 20-00031-GW).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERandall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMore information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/fraud\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/fraud\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:25:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981901\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:12:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981146\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1035\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"8f0bf01d-a76e-49d6-884a-ce46e8e96164\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (\\u201cHSTF\\u201d) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 31 through September 4, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations\\u2014including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EConvictions through Guilty Pleas:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0f126c6345264531558c75a5eb607ffb\\u0022\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, \\u00c1lvaro Ortiz-Callejas pleaded guilty to narcotics importation conspiracy and narcotics importation aiding and abetting in Criminal Case 23-085 (PAD).\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to import and aiding and abetting the importation of five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on October 18, 2024. The court set defendant\\u2019s sentencing date for December 7, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e97f5b3508be7996e9a8798e2aeae08f1\\u0022\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Edgar Santiago-V\\u00e1zquez pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-215 (SCC) and to Counts One and Seven of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-392 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on September 25, 2026. The court set defendant\\u0027s sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e89ddfb9fb81a7aae5c19ed731ea3eb\\u0022\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Enrique Falc\\u00f3n-Lopez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM).\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to commit wire, bank and mail fraud.\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on June 17, 2025. The court set defendant\\u2019s sentencing date for January 12, 2027. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e50def0c6ce17b95aa131c615979d374e\\u0022\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Lucas Jos\\u00e9 P\\u00e9rez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM).\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to manufacture or distribution of cocaine for purpose of unlawful importation.\\u0026nbsp;Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025, in the Dominican Republic and extradited to Puerto Rico on August 21, 2025. The court set defendant\\u2019s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\u00eda Jim\\u00e9nez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e61095d6052336be55b015fea74281c93\\u0022\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Yariel Enrique Morales-Fuentes pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC).\\u0026nbsp;According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant\\u2019s sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSAs Laura D\\u00edaz-Gonz\\u00e1lez and Andr\\u00e9s Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentencings:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e891b166ce1165bbf9770617f80c6d3c4\\u0022\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, Josu\\u00e9 Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. \\u201cTonto\\/Doble T\\u201d was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mar\\u00eda Angongiorgi-Jord\\u00e1n to nine (9) years of imprisonment to be followed by eight (8) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura D\\u00edaz-Gonz\\u00e1lez and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e2ff1c42c410bca79652c0d39e1dd140e\\u0022\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Defendant Jes\\u00fas M. Cruz Mart\\u00ednez, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\u00fal Arias-Marxuach to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a conspiracy to commit bank, wire, and mail fraud. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e8b696592c9e7ed8ef64c9a1be24608d8\\u0022\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, \\u00c1ngel Ocasio-Cancel was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to 60 months of imprisonment and eight (8) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2026, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. AUSA Andr\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3691feed076de1bf63f2b8d8e770cd9a\\u0022\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Jeuris Rodr\\u00edguez-Payano was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\u00fal Arias Maxuach to a term of imprisonment of 118 months and five (5) years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture or distribute 323 kilograms cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2022, in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\u00eda Jim\\u00e9nez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e7521fca16c5cb91facdd36df35563070\\u0022\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Ra\\u00fal Gonz\\u00e1lez-Santiago was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to 84 months of imprisonment\\u201424 months as to Count One and 60 months as to Count Seven, to be served consecutively\\u2014and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026. AUSA Andr\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e2f4c321d193caee1c0f243b7c0fce328\\u0022\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Robert Mart\\u00ednez-Limas was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado Hern\\u00e1ndez to a term of six (6) months in home incarceration and four (4) years and six (6) months in probation for possessing with intent to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on August 22, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-280 (PAD), and pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\u00eda Jim\\u00e9nez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e7316cffdf583aa76bd6d9e0920d42f8c\\u0022\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Rodney Alexis Maldonado-M\\u00e1rquez was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to time served and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 18, 2026. AUSA Andr\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e9e7559b742aa8dcd7c0e18a4e715bdea\\u0022\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Barbara Valent\\u00edn-Rivera was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to time served and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and to launder the drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 29, 2021, in Criminal Case 21-359, and pleaded guilty on May 18, 2026. AUSA Ricardo Imbert Fern\\u00e1ndez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico\\/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard \\u2013 Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:53:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788983609\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Puerto Rico\"},{\"uuid\":\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\",\"name\":\"U.S. Marshals Service\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:49:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788983380\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2026-097\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (\\u201cHSTF\\u201d) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 31 through September 4, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations\\u2014including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 31 through September 4, 2026)\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/convictions-through-guilty-pleas-and-sentencings-homeland-security-task-force-hstf-9\",\"uuid\":\"229c6fca-be7e-4df7-bd56-22434d5fb89c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\u2013 Jason Anthony Barrett, 47, of South Charleston, was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, also known as \\u201ccrack.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barrett\\u2019s South Charleston residence and seized 432.5 grams of methamphetamine, 25.2 grams of cocaine, 11.4 grams of crack, and 13.68 grams of fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Barrett admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them to others.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBarrett further admitted that he sold 55.73 grams of methamphetamine on May 8, 2025, and 2.82 grams of fentanyl and 3.34 grams of crack on May 19, 2025, that both transactions occurred at his residence, and that he sold the controlled substances to a confidential informant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBarrett has a criminal history that includes four prior convictions for domestic battery and prior convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-cocaine and attempted escape.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBarrett is among more than a dozen individuals indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. Nine defendants pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine between June 2024 and May 2025. Barrett is among five defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the same federal investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao\\/wvs\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;for the Southern District of West Virginia.\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pacer.login.uscourts.gov\\/csologin\\/login.jsf?pscCourtId=WVSDC\\u0026amp;appurl=https:\\/\\/ecf.wvsd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/showpage.pl?16\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-189.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T16:08:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788984506\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"6decd6a7-23cb-4fef-b50c-791f6604191f\",\"name\":\"USAO - West Virginia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:15:20-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788977720\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdwv\\/pr\\/kanawha-county-man-sentenced-prison-federal-drug-crime-9\",\"uuid\":\"08ee0bff-c2c3-451b-a8ec-337ecb6698c9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) \\u2013 Washington Division,\\u0026nbsp;and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on February 4, 2025, a BPD detective, monitoring a CitiWatch Camera, observed Fallin displaying characteristics of an armed person. The detective saw Fallin adjusting the front waistband of his pants while in a convenience store.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThen Fallin exited the store and approached the driver\\u2019s side of a white vehicle with an unknown male who was speaking to a female driver. During the conversation, the officer noticed Fallin repeatedly checking and adjusting an object in the front waistband of his pants. Then the detective saw Fallin walk to the front of the car and pull out a black handgun and hold it against his side.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFallin then put the firearm back in his waistband and adjusted his pants. After the white vehicle left, Fallin went to his vehicle and entered the driver\\u2019s seat. Shortly after, BPD officers arrived on the scene to apprehend Fallin.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter law enforcement arrested Fallin, officers asked him if he owned a permit for the firearm. But Fallin denied having the firearm. Then law enforcement searched the vehicle and uncovered a loaded firearm that contained 12 rounds of ammunition underneath the driver\\u2019s seat.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, law enforcement discovered a United States Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key that fell from the driver\\u2019s side visor onto the driver\\u2019s seat. An Arrow Key is a government-issued master key that enables postal carriers to open cluster box units, blue collection boxes, and other USPS-secured mail infrastructure.\\u0026nbsp; Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that the recovered Arrow Key was stolen from a postal carrier on February 3.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the\\u0026nbsp;USPIS and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the\\u0026nbsp;Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O\\u2019Donohue III,\\u0026nbsp;who prosecuted the federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:04:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788977097\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788976989\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Baltimore Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Stolen Postal Service Key\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/baltimore-man-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearm-and-stolen-postal-service-key\",\"uuid\":\"82f89b0c-382e-4a12-b21d-b58b7b9c17ad\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough\\u2019s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EScarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981008\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:08:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788980919\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1034\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/maryland-woman-sentenced-prison-11m-tax-refund-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"892bb09b-bee4-487e-bac3-799806955291\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis serial felon\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957073\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\",\"uuid\":\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958577\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\",\"uuid\":\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESACRAMENTO, Calif. \\u2014 Zuryess Roberts, 26, of Vallejo, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to seven years in prison for illegal gun trafficking and possessing a machine gun conversion device, U.S.\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal jury found Roberts guilty in May 2025 after trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Roberts was the leader of a loosely affiliated crew that was illegally selling dangerous, high-powered weapons in Vallejo using a Super 8 motel on Solano Avenue in Vallejo as the hub of their criminal activity. During the investigation, on multiple separate occasions, Roberts sold and oversaw the sale of dangerous weapons, including a machine gun conversion device and facilitated the sale of multiple untraceable ghost guns, on the streets of Vallejo to a person he believed to be a violent criminal. In total, Roberts was responsible for selling 13 firearms, and he received approximately $7,850, from selling firearms during the course of the investigation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFour co-defendants were convicted of firearms-related crimes and sentenced to federal prison. They include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETaezon Laurece Sanderson, 23, sentenced to 36 months;\\u003Cbr\\u003EDivaya Talley, 18, sentenced to 36 months in prison;\\u003Cbr\\u003ENapoleon Washington, 45, sentenced to 15 months in prison;\\u003Cbr\\u003EAnderson Thurston, 66, sentenced to 12 months in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vallejo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:26:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788974774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:21:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788974514\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EZuryess Roberts, 26, of Vallejo, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for illegal gun trafficking and possessing a machine gun conversion device\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Vallejo gun trafficker sentenced to 7 years in prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edca\\/pr\\/vallejo-gun-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"a91d3596-5e21-4b92-98b0-609442d4cbe7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\u201ctimknight444,\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant resu [...truncated 13350 characters...] ce sends a clear message that those who traffic deadly narcotics in Minnesota will be met with decisive action. My office remains fully committed to protecting the public by dismantling the criminal networks that put our communities at risk,\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday, the ringleader of an organization responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,\\u201d said DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\u201cNo one is above the law and today\\u2019s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighborhoods.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Olmsted County Sheriff\\u0027s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,\\u201d said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff\\u0027s Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the indictment (\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/five-members-surenos-affiliated-transnational-criminal-organization-charged-narcotics\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EApril 8, 2025\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E) linked here.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:14:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995647\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Minnesota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995556\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 20 Years\\u2019 Imprisonment for Supervisory Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sure\\u00f1os and Sinaloa Cartel\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-20-years-imprisonment-supervisory-role-methamphetamine-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"d05b30cf-e8a6-4190-997c-4658cb4e8895\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJiemaliahl Cleveland, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 23, 2025, Cleveland possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Colville scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cleveland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:10:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973842\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973773\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/sharon-resident-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"ba3a7e38-4d78-4086-b524-6191825ad1d0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBROOKLYN, NY \\u2013 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.\\u0026nbsp; In August 2025, Khan \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/leader-68m-adult-day-care-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty\\u0022\\u003Epleaded guilty\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.\\u0026nbsp;As part of her sentence,\\u0026nbsp;Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460796\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/money1.png?itok=lrK_iNkp\\u0022 width=\\u0022675\\u0022 height=\\u0022558\\u0022 alt=\\u0022image1\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__icon\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cimg src=\\u0022\\/themes\\/custom\\/usdoj_uswds\\/images\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\u0022 alt\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__credit\\u0022\\u003EEDNY\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); Miranda\\u0026nbsp;L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cOur Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters and as such, we will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care owners and operators in our district.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cKhan acted with staggering greed, leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars intended for people in need.\\u0026nbsp; She and her co-conspirators set up social adult daycares but, instead of providing care and services to our most vulnerable neighbors, they enriched themselves with cash, gold, and property,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence sends a message: we will be relentless in our pursuit of justice against fraudsters.\\u0026nbsp; HSI is working side by side with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle complex fraud networks like this one.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cSocial adult day care and home health services are designed to support seniors, not line the pockets of fraudsters,\\u201d said HHS-OIG Acting Deputy Inspector\\u0026nbsp; General Bennett. \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence sends an important message that anyone who illicitly exploits the Medicaid program will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cZakia Khan stole $64 million from Medicaid through bribes and kickbacks\\u2014money meant to support the most vulnerable,\\u201d said\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003ENYPD Commissioner Tisch.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis was not only deeply illegal but also immoral, and the NYPD will continue to investigate anyone who exploits government programs for personal gain.\\u0026nbsp; I thank our NYPD investigators and all our partners in law enforcement for their work in stopping this criminal and bringing this case to a close.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Khan owned two social adult daycare centers\\u2014Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social) in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; She also owned a home health care fiscal intermediary called Responsible Care Staffing Inc. and an entity she used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds called Tanwee Services Inc.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom approximately October 2017 through July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, a web of marketers referred Medicaid recipients to Khan\\u2019s social adult daycare centers.\\u0026nbsp; As depicted in the pictures below, Khan and the marketers paid kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients to induce them to sign up for services that Khan then billed to Medicaid.\\u0026nbsp; These services were never actually provided as represented to Medicaid.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween 2017 and 2024, Happy Family and Family Social fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $64 million.\\u0026nbsp; Medicaid paid approximately $56 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.\\u0026nbsp; Khan and her co-conspirators used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the marketers and the Medicaid recipients.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460806\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/khan1.jpeg?itok=1wLTBvGl\\u0022 width=\\u0022506\\u0022 height=\\u0022373\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Khan1\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__icon\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cimg src=\\u0022\\/themes\\/custom\\/usdoj_uswds\\/images\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\u0022 alt\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__credit\\u0022\\u003EEDNY\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EZakia Khan on an undercover recording paying illegal kickbacks inside her office at Happy Family.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460801\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/khan2.jpeg?itok=OAPSkI_e\\u0022 width=\\u0022581\\u0022 height=\\u0022548\\u0022 alt=\\u0022khan2.jpeg\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__icon\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cimg src=\\u0022\\/themes\\/custom\\/usdoj_uswds\\/images\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\u0022 alt\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__credit\\u0022\\u003EEDNY\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460811\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/khan3.jpeg?itok=tfvY-5Z4\\u0022 width=\\u0022997\\u0022 height=\\u0022861\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Khan3\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__icon\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cimg src=\\u0022\\/themes\\/custom\\/usdoj_uswds\\/images\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\u0022 alt\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022image-credit__credit\\u0022\\u003EEDNY\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EMedicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan\\u2019s social adult daycare centers.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHHS-OIG, HSI New York, and NYPD investigated the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDeputy Chief Patrick J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Kedeshian for the Eastern District of New York, who is handling forfeiture matters.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant:\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EZAKIA KHAN\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge:\\u0026nbsp; 55\\u003Cbr\\u003EBrooklyn, New York\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-409 (NCM)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:47:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789062441\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T16:03:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788984229\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460796\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"a26172a1-6c81-4bc9-b92f-3fe421d1303d\"},\"alt\":\"image1\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460801\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"d60e4302-6dd2-477a-805e-f5f8c5f03ee6\"},\"alt\":\"khan2.jpeg\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460806\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"24f5b473-c5cb-4daf-83d6-72688282bce3\"},\"alt\":\"Khan1\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460811\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"6dc0f40f-893b-4605-ba15-95ce4f0333a1\"},\"alt\":\"Khan3\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBROOKLYN, NY \\u2013 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.\\u0026nbsp; In August 2025, Khan \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/leader-68m-adult-day-care-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty\\u0022\\u003Epleaded guilty\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.\\u0026nbsp;As part of her sentence,\\u0026nbsp;Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in $68 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-76-months-prison-leadership-role-68-million\",\"uuid\":\"361db91a-270d-485c-9460-1a15e169bd69\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\u2013 A Columbia, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESemaj Reshod Clark, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Clark had previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting that he possessed a Taurus, model G3, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in Boone County on Aug. 10, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to government filings, Clark was found in possession of the firearm after an individual called law enforcement, reporting that Clark was at the individual\\u2019s home and was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, Clark fled on foot before being located and arrested with a loaded firearm in his pocket. Clark has prior felony convictions and was not permitted to possess a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T16:28:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788985738\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T16:27:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788985665\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESemaj Reshod Clark, 25, of Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Columbia Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Firearm Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/columbia-man-sentenced-10-years-firearm-offense\",\"uuid\":\"f9ed39e0-4e8b-4009-8eba-ef111f2d9624\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different \\u201cpenny stocks\\u201d in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO\\u2019s own shares in those companies. CSURGO pled guilty on May 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed the sentence on September 4, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentencing reflects a clear and unambiguous message: those who manipulate our markets and defraud investors will not escape justice,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cJulius Csurgo manipulated U.S. financial markets, exploited shell companies, and engaged in deceitful promotions to enrich himself at the expense of unsuspecting investors. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure our markets remain fair, transparent, and trustworthy.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Information, public filings, and statements made in court proceedings:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECSURGO, a Canadian-Hungarian citizen, orchestrated multiple \\u201cpump-and-dump\\u201d schemes along with his -co-conspirators. In his guilty plea, CSURGO admitted to securities fraud involving nineteen issuers. His sophisticated scheme involved gaining controlling interest of unrestricted stock, then concealing ownership by distributing shares among nominee entities through a Swiss corporation called Blacklight, S.A. While maintaining behind-the-scenes control over the shares and significant influence over company management, CSURGO and his co-conspirators funded promotional campaigns without disclosing their controlling interest or intent to sell. They took deliberate steps to hide that nominee entities were funding these promotions. During or shortly after generating market interest, CSURGO sold large percentages of holdings and collected the proceeds through the elaborate network of nominee entities he controlled, which he also used to distribute proceeds to his co-conspirators.\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u200b\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to his prison term, CSURGO, 71, of Toronto, Canada, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit approximately $9,610,409.95.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He further thanked the Justice Department\\u2019s Office of International Affairs of the Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, as well as authorities in Canada. Mr. McDonald also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against CSURGO.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Richman, Samuel Rothschild, and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:07:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788980822\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:46:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-254\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different \\u201cpenny stocks\\u201d in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO\\u2019s own shares in those companies.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"International Stock Manipulator Sentenced To 27 Months\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/international-stock-manipulator-sentenced-27-months\",\"uuid\":\"a3327a14-8b18-4b28-8a46-cc22dfaada77\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01K3A1fDvsN257p8mBLhWDn4, 3 events)

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Inner payload

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":4},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.5043408870697021},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 The United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring this investigation, which will focus on the conditions of the facility itself and not the actions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department deputies who staff it, the Justice Department will determine whether the County has violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Personals Act (CRIPA), a federal statute intended to protect the rights of people incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, among other state and locally run institutions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhether a person is held in a county jail, awaiting trial, or after conviction, the environmental conditions in that jail need to meet constitutional standards,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. \\\\u201cThe Civil Rights Division is pleased to partner with the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in its investigation of Los Angeles County\\\\u2019s Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail to determine whether the County meets those constitutional conditions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cLos Angeles County has a constitutional duty to provide safe, humane, and habitable conditions at Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\\\u201cWe have reached no conclusions, but these concerns warrant a thorough investigation. If the evidence reveals systemic violations, we will act.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has not reached any conclusion regarding allegations in this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis new investigation is separate from a 2015 settlement in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. County of Los Angeles\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, (C.D. Cal., 15cv5903), which was related to mental health care provided at Los Angeles County jails.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndividuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/report\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\\\/report\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Julie A. Hamill of the Civil Division\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Section is handling this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:55:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789059303\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:23:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981835\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-155\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Notifies Los Angeles County of Investigation into Whether Conditions at Downtown L.A. Jail Violate Constitution\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-notifies-los-angeles-county-investigation-whether-conditions\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f83f1624-dfb5-46da-a5ca-9dfda6117c16\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday found a St. Louis County felon caught with two guns guilty of a firearm charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence and testimony at the trial, which started Tuesday, showed that a Hazelwood police officer stopped Paris D. McPeters on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stay in his lane. After learning that McPeters had an active warrant, the officer arrested him. \\\\u0026nbsp;Before the vehicle was towed, the officer asked McPeters whether there were guns or drugs in the vehicle and McPeters responded, \\\\u201cyeah.\\\\u201d A search revealed a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine, five additional loaded large capacity magazines, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with a loaded 50 round drum magazine and extra ammunition, evidence and testimony showed. McPeters has numerous prior convictions. As a felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460821\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/ex_3screenshot_2026-09-09_142849.png?itok=dMPaNNE2\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221238\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022710\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Exhibit 3\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcPeters, 44, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 9. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Christian Goeke and Joseph Green are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:32:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989579\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:26:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989210\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460821\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51c611b3-558c-44ff-96f2-9e044383bcd4\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Exhibit 3\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EParis D. McPeters was caught with a rifle, a pistol and drum magazines.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jurors Convict St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns, Drum Magazines\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/jurors-convict-st-louis-county-felon-caught-guns-drum-magazines\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c62e8cb2-66ca-4c9b-a499-da822758e8d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bryan Gutierrez, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween December 2024 and April 2025, Gutierrez conspired with co-defendant Antonio Rivera-Perez and others to sell fentanyl. In February, March, and April of 2025, investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Gutierrez. On April 22, 2025, a search warrant was executed at the Langfield Drive residence of co-defendant Rivera-Perez, during which law enforcement seized approximately 1,072 grams of powder cocaine, 198 grams of crack cocaine, and 190 grams of fentanyl, a firearm, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and approximately $3,500 in cash.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonio Rivera-Perez was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 60 months in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett Fitzsimmons and Katerina Powers. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E#\\\\u0026nbsp;#\\\\u0026nbsp;#\\\\u0026nbsp;#\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:59:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994788\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:57:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994635\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bryan Gutierrez, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Buffalo man going to prison for his role in narcotics conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/buffalo-man-going-prison-his-role-narcotics-conspiracy-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1ed9c848-5faf-4a68-9048-f4849279ebd7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESOUTH BEND \\\\u2013 Rodoundy Smith, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2027.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew A. Krumwied, Joseph M. Barrier, and Lydia T. Lucius.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:21:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788988890\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"27450eca-820f-409c-ae9c-7d89d90bef92\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:18:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788988701\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"South Bend Man Found Guilty by Jury for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndin\\\\/pr\\\\/south-bend-man-found-guilty-jury-unlawful-possession-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"71213de1-86e0-4ff6-8d4a-ef6bcf79885f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Sean Michael Hunt, 51, of San Francisco, was sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, by U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on May 17, 2010, Hunt pleaded guilty to receiving CSAM in Fresno. After serving his prison sentence, he relocated to San Francisco and began serving a lifetime term of supervised release. In March 2024, during a search of Hunt\\\\u2019s residence, Hunt\\\\u2019s probation officer found two laptops, three iPhones and one iPad. On the devices were more than 10,000 still images and 75 videos of CSAM. Hunt was charged with violating the conditions of his release and was additionally charged with possession of CSAM.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Jan. 26, 2026, Hunt pleaded guilty to the violation of supervised release and to possession of CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\\\/psc.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:03:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788987823\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:01:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788987681\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESean Michael Hunt, 51, of San Francisco, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"San Francisco man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for child exploitation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/san-francisco-man-sentenced-more-12-years-prison-child-exploitation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cf4cc275-7852-4bb2-a942-0a2bde22559d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 James Soriano, a former public official at the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, Soriano admitted he accepted bribes from defense contractors in the form of lavish meals, employment opportunities for family members and friends, and tickets to premier sporting events. In exchange, he used his position to help the contractors secure and maintain hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESoriano also admitted to filing false tax returns in connection with the bribes he received.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson ordered Soriano to forfeit $209,527.51 and pay $18,722.40 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Soriano\\\\u2019s plea agreement, the defense contractors \\\\u2013 acting through their presidents, officers, and employees \\\\u2013 gave various things of value to Soriano, including dinners at Ruth\\\\u2019s Chris, Island Prime, and Fogo de Ch\\\\u00e3o; tickets to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, 2018 World Series, and 2019 Superbowl; and jobs for Soriano\\\\u2019s family and friends, including Soriano\\\\u2019s wife and Soriano\\\\u2019s family friend, Liberty Gutierrez, who gave Soriano $2,000 a month in cash from her salary at one of the companies working under a defense contract.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn return, Soriano took official action to aid his benefactors, such as allowing defense contractors to draft government documents in competitive and non-competitive procurements, submitting those documents as part of the procurement process, and advocating for their selection as defense contractors. Soriano also willfully failed to disclose the cash payments he received from Gutierrez on his federal tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Soriano\\\\u2019s plea agreement, from approximately March 2016 through at least October 2019, Soriano and a coworker, Dawnell Parker, received bribes from Philip Flores, the president and CEO of Intellipeak Solutions, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp; Soriano also admitted that from approximately May 2015 through at least October 2019, he separately received bribes from another defense contractor, with offices in San Diego and Stafford, Virginia, who gave him things of value, such as expensive dinners, a job for his wife, and rounds of golf at a private country club.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFurther, according to Soriano\\\\u2019s plea agreement, from approximately June 2014 through at least October 2019, Soriano received bribes from Russell Thurston, the Vice President of Cambridge International Systems, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp; In return for these bribes, Soriano used various methods to steer contracts to these defense contractors and kept his contracting activities hidden from the Naval Information Warfare Center.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCorruption in federal procurement undermines fair competition and cheats law-abiding businesses,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. \\\\u201cThis is a strong sentence that proves corrupt officials will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe sentencing of Mr. Soriano should serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to enrich themselves through fraudulent contracting practices,\\\\u201d said John E. Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of War Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. \\\\u201cThis type of criminal behavior undermines the Department or War\\\\u2019s procurement system and erodes public trust. DCIS will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute public corruption affecting America\\\\u2019s Warfighters.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMr. Soriano abused his position of trust to benefit favored contractors and undermine the integrity of the procurement process,\\\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Merkal of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. \\\\u201cThis sentencing reinforces our unwavering commitment to holding public officials accountable when they betray the public trust for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case shows how greed and corruption drive people to exploit public systems for personal gain,\\\\u201d said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge with IRS Criminal Investigation\\\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cIRS\\\\u2011CI\\\\u2019s financial expertise allows us to cut through even the most complex schemes, follow the money, and hold those who betray the public trust accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EDEFENDANT\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Case Numbers 23-cr-2282-TWR-1 and 24-cr-341-TWR-1\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames Soriano\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 65\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Las Vegas, NV\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EConspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaximum penalties (per count): Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFalse Statements in Tax Returns \\\\u2013 Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7206(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaximum penalties: Three years in prison; $100,000 fine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCIES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDefense Criminal Investigative Service\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENaval Criminal Investigative Service\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESmall Business Administration \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInternal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDepartment of Health and Human Services \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EIf you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u0027Fraud Division\\\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:23:06-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985386\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:20:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985208\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"CAS26-0909-Soriano\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 James Soriano, a former public official at the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. According to his plea agreement, Soriano admitted he accepted bribes from defense contractors in the form of lavish meals, employment opportunities for family members and friends, and tickets to premier sporting events. In exchange, he used his position to help the contractors secure and maintain hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Navy Civilian Employee Sentenced to 72 Months for Bribery and Tax Fraud Schemes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"351fcc4e-1f5b-4490-b848-db30da15059a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Public Corruption\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdca\\\\/pr\\\\/former-navy-civilian-employee-sentenced-72-months-bribery-and-tax-fraud-schemes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdaa517a-72ee-49e0-80b1-a4be03539011\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mekfira Hussein and Abduljabar Hussein have been sentenced to a total of 97 months in prison for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Husseins submitted fraudulent claims for meals and ultimately obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel on September 8, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMekfira Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 42, of Shakopee, Minnesota, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-woman-pleads-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 31, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAbduljabar Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 45,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Shakopee, Minnesota,\\\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/four-more-defendants-plead-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 5, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children. Their sentences today reflect my office\\\\u2019s commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer prosecuted these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Press releases on the defendants\\\\u2019 indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-couple-indicted-their-roles-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOctober 18, 2022\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:47:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994037\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:46:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788993976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Couple in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months\\\\u2019 Imprisonment\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/couple-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme-sentenced-97-months-imprisonment\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"95e3ce0e-765a-4e68-9b0d-5857276e015d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962761\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison  for Production of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY \\\\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959888\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California\\\\u2019s history.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\\\u2019s most vulnerable residents,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,\\\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\\\u201cHHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\\\u2019s our department\\\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Paul Richard Randall\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, No. CR 20-00031-GW).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California\\\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:25:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981901\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:12:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981146\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1035\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8f0bf01d-a76e-49d6-884a-ce46e8e96164\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (\\\\u201cHSTF\\\\u201d) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 31 through September 4, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations\\\\u2014including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EConvictions through Guilty Pleas:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0f126c6345264531558c75a5eb607ffb\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, \\\\u00c1lvaro Ortiz-Callejas pleaded guilty to narcotics importation conspiracy and narcotics importation aiding and abetting in Criminal Case 23-085 (PAD).\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to import and aiding and abetting the importation of five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.\\\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on October 18, 2024. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for December 7, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e97f5b3508be7996e9a8798e2aeae08f1\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Edgar Santiago-V\\\\u00e1zquez pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-215 (SCC) and to Counts One and Seven of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-392 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on September 25, 2026. The court set defendant\\\\u0027s sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6e89ddfb9fb81a7aae5c19ed731ea3eb\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Enrique Falc\\\\u00f3n-Lopez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM).\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to commit wire, bank and mail fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on June 17, 2025. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for January 12, 2027. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e50def0c6ce17b95aa131c615979d374e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Lucas Jos\\\\u00e9 P\\\\u00e9rez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM).\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to manufacture or distribution of cocaine for purpose of unlawful importation.\\\\u0026nbsp;Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025, in the Dominican Republic and extradited to Puerto Rico on August 21, 2025. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\\\u00eda Jim\\\\u00e9nez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e61095d6052336be55b015fea74281c93\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Yariel Enrique Morales-Fuentes pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC).\\\\u0026nbsp;According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSAs Laura D\\\\u00edaz-Gonz\\\\u00e1lez and Andr\\\\u00e9s Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencings:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e891b166ce1165bbf9770617f80c6d3c4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, Josu\\\\u00e9 Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. \\\\u201cTonto\\\\/Doble T\\\\u201d was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mar\\\\u00eda Angongiorgi-Jord\\\\u00e1n to nine (9) years of imprisonment to be followed by eight (8) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura D\\\\u00edaz-Gonz\\\\u00e1lez and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2ff1c42c410bca79652c0d39e1dd140e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Defendant Jes\\\\u00fas M. Cruz Mart\\\\u00ednez, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal Arias-Marxuach to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a conspiracy to commit bank, wire, and mail fraud. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8b696592c9e7ed8ef64c9a1be24608d8\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, \\\\u00c1ngel Ocasio-Cancel was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to 60 months of imprisonment and eight (8) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2026, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. AUSA Andr\\\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3691feed076de1bf63f2b8d8e770cd9a\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Jeuris Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Payano was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal Arias Maxuach to a term of imprisonment of 118 months and five (5) years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture or distribute 323 kilograms cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2022, in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\\\u00eda Jim\\\\u00e9nez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e7521fca16c5cb91facdd36df35563070\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Ra\\\\u00fal Gonz\\\\u00e1lez-Santiago was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to 84 months of imprisonment\\\\u201424 months as to Count One and 60 months as to Count Seven, to be served consecutively\\\\u2014and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026. AUSA Andr\\\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2f4c321d193caee1c0f243b7c0fce328\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Robert Mart\\\\u00ednez-Limas was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado Hern\\\\u00e1ndez to a term of six (6) months in home incarceration and four (4) years and six (6) months in probation for possessing with intent to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on August 22, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-280 (PAD), and pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\\\u00eda Jim\\\\u00e9nez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e7316cffdf583aa76bd6d9e0920d42f8c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Rodney Alexis Maldonado-M\\\\u00e1rquez was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to time served and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 18, 2026. AUSA Andr\\\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e9e7559b742aa8dcd7c0e18a4e715bdea\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Barbara Valent\\\\u00edn-Rivera was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to time served and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and to launder the drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 29, 2021, in Criminal Case 21-359, and pleaded guilty on May 18, 2026. AUSA Ricardo Imbert Fern\\\\u00e1ndez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico\\\\/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard \\\\u2013 Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:53:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983609\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"U.S. Marshals Service\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:49:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983380\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-097\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (\\\\u201cHSTF\\\\u201d) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 31 through September 4, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations\\\\u2014including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 31 through September 4, 2026)\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/convictions-through-guilty-pleas-and-sentencings-homeland-security-task-force-hstf-9\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"229c6fca-be7e-4df7-bd56-22434d5fb89c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\\\u2013 Jason Anthony Barrett, 47, of South Charleston, was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, also known as \\\\u201ccrack.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barrett\\\\u2019s South Charleston residence and seized 432.5 grams of methamphetamine, 25.2 grams of cocaine, 11.4 grams of crack, and 13.68 grams of fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Barrett admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them to others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarrett further admitted that he sold 55.73 grams of methamphetamine on May 8, 2025, and 2.82 grams of fentanyl and 3.34 grams of crack on May 19, 2025, that both transactions occurred at his residence, and that he sold the controlled substances to a confidential informant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarrett has a criminal history that includes four prior convictions for domestic battery and prior convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-cocaine and attempted escape.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarrett is among more than a dozen individuals indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. Nine defendants pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine between June 2024 and May 2025. Barrett is among five defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the same federal investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/wvs\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Southern District of West Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.login.uscourts.gov\\\\/csologin\\\\/login.jsf?pscCourtId=WVSDC\\\\u0026amp;appurl=https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.wvsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/showpage.pl?16\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-189.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:08:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788984506\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6decd6a7-23cb-4fef-b50c-791f6604191f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:15:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977720\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdwv\\\\/pr\\\\/kanawha-county-man-sentenced-prison-federal-drug-crime-9\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"08ee0bff-c2c3-451b-a8ec-337ecb6698c9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) \\\\u2013 Washington Division,\\\\u0026nbsp;and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on February 4, 2025, a BPD detective, monitoring a CitiWatch Camera, observed Fallin displaying characteristics of an armed person. The detective saw Fallin adjusting the front waistband of his pants while in a convenience store.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThen Fallin exited the store and approached the driver\\\\u2019s side of a white vehicle with an unknown male who was speaking to a female driver. During the conversation, the officer noticed Fallin repeatedly checking and adjusting an object in the front waistband of his pants. Then the detective saw Fallin walk to the front of the car and pull out a black handgun and hold it against his side.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFallin then put the firearm back in his waistband and adjusted his pants. After the white vehicle left, Fallin went to his vehicle and entered the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Shortly after, BPD officers arrived on the scene to apprehend Fallin.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter law enforcement arrested Fallin, officers asked him if he owned a permit for the firearm. But Fallin denied having the firearm. Then law enforcement searched the vehicle and uncovered a loaded firearm that contained 12 rounds of ammunition underneath the driver\\\\u2019s seat.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, law enforcement discovered a United States Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key that fell from the driver\\\\u2019s side visor onto the driver\\\\u2019s seat. An Arrow Key is a government-issued master key that enables postal carriers to open cluster box units, blue collection boxes, and other USPS-secured mail infrastructure.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that the recovered Arrow Key was stolen from a postal carrier on February 3.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the\\\\u0026nbsp;USPIS and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the\\\\u0026nbsp;Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O\\\\u2019Donohue III,\\\\u0026nbsp;who prosecuted the federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:04:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977097\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976989\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Baltimore Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Stolen Postal Service Key\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/baltimore-man-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearm-and-stolen-postal-service-key\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"82f89b0c-382e-4a12-b21d-b58b7b9c17ad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough\\\\u2019s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EScarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981008\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:08:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788980919\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1034\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-woman-sentenced-prison-11m-tax-refund-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"892bb09b-bee4-487e-bac3-799806955291\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis serial felon\\\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\\\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957073\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\\\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958577\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota  and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESACRAMENTO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Zuryess Roberts, 26, of Vallejo, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to seven years in prison for illegal gun trafficking and possessing a machine gun conversion device, U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal jury found Roberts guilty in May 2025 after trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Roberts was the leader of a loosely affiliated crew that was illegally selling dangerous, high-powered weapons in Vallejo using a Super 8 motel on Solano Avenue in Vallejo as the hub of their criminal activity. During the investigation, on multiple separate occasions, Roberts sold and oversaw the sale of dangerous weapons, including a machine gun conversion device and facilitated the sale of multiple untraceable ghost guns, on the streets of Vallejo to a person he believed to be a violent criminal. In total, Roberts was responsible for selling 13 firearms, and he received approximately $7,850, from selling firearms during the course of the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFour co-defendants were convicted of firearms-related crimes and sentenced to federal prison. They include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETaezon Laurece Sanderson, 23, sentenced to 36 months;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EDivaya Talley, 18, sentenced to 36 months in prison;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ENapoleon Washington, 45, sentenced to 15 months in prison;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAnderson Thurston, 66, sentenced to 12 months in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vallejo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:26:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788974774\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:21:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788974514\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZuryess Roberts, 26, of Vallejo, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for illegal gun trafficking and possessing a machine gun conversion device\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Vallejo gun trafficker sentenced to 7 years in prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/vallejo-gun-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a91d3596-5e21-4b92-98b0-609442d4cbe7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\\\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\\\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\\\u201ctimknight444,\\\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant resu\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nce sends a clear message that those who traffic deadly narcotics in Minnesota will be met with decisive action. My office remains fully committed to protecting the public by dismantling the criminal networks that put our communities at risk,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday, the ringleader of an organization responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,\\\\u201d said DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\\\u201cNo one is above the law and today\\\\u2019s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighborhoods.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,\\\\u201d said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/five-members-surenos-affiliated-transnational-criminal-organization-charged-narcotics\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EApril 8, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:14:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995647\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995556\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 20 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Supervisory Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sure\\\\u00f1os and Sinaloa Cartel\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-20-years-imprisonment-supervisory-role-methamphetamine-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d05b30cf-e8a6-4190-997c-4658cb4e8895\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJiemaliahl Cleveland, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 23, 2025, Cleveland possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Colville scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cleveland.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:10:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788973842\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:09:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788973773\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/sharon-resident-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ba3a7e38-4d78-4086-b524-6191825ad1d0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBROOKLYN, NY \\\\u2013 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.\\\\u0026nbsp; In August 2025, Khan \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/leader-68m-adult-day-care-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty\\\\u0022\\\\u003Epleaded guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.\\\\u0026nbsp;As part of her sentence,\\\\u0026nbsp;Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460796\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/money1.png?itok=lrK_iNkp\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022675\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022558\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022image1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n        \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); Miranda\\\\u0026nbsp;L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cOur Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters and as such, we will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care owners and operators in our district.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cKhan acted with staggering greed, leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars intended for people in need.\\\\u0026nbsp; She and her co-conspirators set up social adult daycares but, instead of providing care and services to our most vulnerable neighbors, they enriched themselves with cash, gold, and property,\\\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a message: we will be relentless in our pursuit of justice against fraudsters.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSI is working side by side with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle complex fraud networks like this one.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cSocial adult day care and home health services are designed to support seniors, not line the pockets of fraudsters,\\\\u201d said HHS-OIG Acting Deputy Inspector\\\\u0026nbsp; General Bennett. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends an important message that anyone who illicitly exploits the Medicaid program will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cZakia Khan stole $64 million from Medicaid through bribes and kickbacks\\\\u2014money meant to support the most vulnerable,\\\\u201d said\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003ENYPD Commissioner Tisch.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis was not only deeply illegal but also immoral, and the NYPD will continue to investigate anyone who exploits government programs for personal gain.\\\\u0026nbsp; I thank our NYPD investigators and all our partners in law enforcement for their work in stopping this criminal and bringing this case to a close.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Khan owned two social adult daycare centers\\\\u2014Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social) in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn.\\\\u0026nbsp; She also owned a home health care fiscal intermediary called Responsible Care Staffing Inc. and an entity she used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds called Tanwee Services Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom approximately October 2017 through July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, a web of marketers referred Medicaid recipients to Khan\\\\u2019s social adult daycare centers.\\\\u0026nbsp; As depicted in the pictures below, Khan and the marketers paid kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients to induce them to sign up for services that Khan then billed to Medicaid.\\\\u0026nbsp; These services were never actually provided as represented to Medicaid.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween 2017 and 2024, Happy Family and Family Social fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $64 million.\\\\u0026nbsp; Medicaid paid approximately $56 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.\\\\u0026nbsp; Khan and her co-conspirators used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the marketers and the Medicaid recipients.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460806\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/khan1.jpeg?itok=1wLTBvGl\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022506\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022373\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Khan1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n        \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EZakia Khan on an undercover recording paying illegal kickbacks inside her office at Happy Family.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460801\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/khan2.jpeg?itok=OAPSkI_e\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022581\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022548\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022khan2.jpeg\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n        \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460811\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/khan3.jpeg?itok=tfvY-5Z4\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022997\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022861\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Khan3\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n        \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EMedicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan\\\\u2019s social adult daycare centers.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHHS-OIG, HSI New York, and NYPD investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDeputy Chief Patrick J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Kedeshian for the Eastern District of New York, who is handling forfeiture matters.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant:\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZAKIA KHAN\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge:\\\\u0026nbsp; 55\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EBrooklyn, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-409 (NCM)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:47:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062441\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:03:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788984229\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460796\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26172a1-6c81-4bc9-b92f-3fe421d1303d\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"image1\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460801\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d60e4302-6dd2-477a-805e-f5f8c5f03ee6\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"khan2.jpeg\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460806\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24f5b473-c5cb-4daf-83d6-72688282bce3\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Khan1\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460811\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6dc0f40f-893b-4605-ba15-95ce4f0333a1\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Khan3\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBROOKLYN, NY \\\\u2013 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.\\\\u0026nbsp; In August 2025, Khan \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/leader-68m-adult-day-care-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty\\\\u0022\\\\u003Epleaded guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.\\\\u0026nbsp;As part of her sentence,\\\\u0026nbsp;Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in $68 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-76-months-prison-leadership-role-68-million\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"361db91a-270d-485c-9460-1a15e169bd69\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Columbia, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESemaj Reshod Clark, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Clark had previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting that he possessed a Taurus, model G3, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in Boone County on Aug. 10, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to government filings, Clark was found in possession of the firearm after an individual called law enforcement, reporting that Clark was at the individual\\\\u2019s home and was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, Clark fled on foot before being located and arrested with a loaded firearm in his pocket. Clark has prior felony convictions and was not permitted to possess a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:28:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985738\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:27:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985665\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESemaj Reshod Clark, 25, of Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Columbia Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Firearm Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/columbia-man-sentenced-10-years-firearm-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f9ed39e0-4e8b-4009-8eba-ef111f2d9624\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different \\\\u201cpenny stocks\\\\u201d in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO\\\\u2019s own shares in those companies. CSURGO pled guilty on May 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed the sentence on September 4, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis sentencing reflects a clear and unambiguous message: those who manipulate our markets and defraud investors will not escape justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cJulius Csurgo manipulated U.S. financial markets, exploited shell companies, and engaged in deceitful promotions to enrich himself at the expense of unsuspecting investors. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure our markets remain fair, transparent, and trustworthy.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Information, public filings, and statements made in court proceedings:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECSURGO, a Canadian-Hungarian citizen, orchestrated multiple \\\\u201cpump-and-dump\\\\u201d schemes along with his -co-conspirators. In his guilty plea, CSURGO admitted to securities fraud involving nineteen issuers. His sophisticated scheme involved gaining controlling interest of unrestricted stock, then concealing ownership by distributing shares among nominee entities through a Swiss corporation called Blacklight, S.A. While maintaining behind-the-scenes control over the shares and significant influence over company management, CSURGO and his co-conspirators funded promotional campaigns without disclosing their controlling interest or intent to sell. They took deliberate steps to hide that nominee entities were funding these promotions. During or shortly after generating market interest, CSURGO sold large percentages of holdings and collected the proceeds through the elaborate network of nominee entities he controlled, which he also used to distribute proceeds to his co-conspirators.\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition to his prison term, CSURGO, 71, of Toronto, Canada, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit approximately $9,610,409.95.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He further thanked the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs of the Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, as well as authorities in Canada. Mr. McDonald also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against CSURGO.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Richman, Samuel Rothschild, and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:07:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788980822\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:46:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-254\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different \\\\u201cpenny stocks\\\\u201d in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO\\\\u2019s own shares in those companies.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"International Stock Manipulator Sentenced To 27 Months\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/international-stock-manipulator-sentenced-27-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3327a14-8b18-4b28-8a46-cc22dfaada77\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.439110416
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01RsqLiCSdzhfz8TnYjPshzb

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases, page 5 of 50-item pages", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0072

(no result)

Tool Result E0073

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":5},\"executionTime\":2.4913530349731445},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBURLINGTON \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow\\u2019s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: \\u201cI am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:47:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788896876\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:11:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788894663\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/senegalese-man-sentenced-17-months-unlawfully-reentering-united-states-after-prior\",\"uuid\":\"e29a4662-0088-441c-b12c-b5ea6baca3d5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to commit bank fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between July and October 2024, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ESean Stevens\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 23, fraudulently obtained money by driving coconspirators to bank locations, instructing them on what to do inside, and providing them with fictitious identification cards in order to allow them access to legitimate customer accounts. Stevens also agreed with coconspirators to travel to banks outside of Maine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EStevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles \\u2013 Enforcement Services Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:41:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788896462\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maine\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:38:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788896282\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EStevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-me\\/pr\\/new-york-man-pleads-guilty-bank-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"0a6262af-15cd-4906-87ed-37161ab98754\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer.\\u0026nbsp;Belvin faces a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, on March 21, 2026, Belvin was the transferee of a Glock handgun from a firearm store in Bradenton. During the transfer, Belvin falsely stated that he was the actual transferee or buyer of the handgun, when in fact, he was obtaining the handgun on behalf of a juvenile. Belvin subsequently provided the handgun to the juvenile after leaving the store.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palmetto Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Jeff Chang.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:31:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788895918\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:30:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788895855\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer.\\u0026nbsp;Belvin faces a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Palmetto Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/palmetto-man-pleads-guilty-straw-purchase-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"ba551393-8332-4af1-8702-acfe6b67d690\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDEL RIO, Texas \\u2013 A Del Rio felon was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in July 2022, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division special agents conducted a traffic stop on Alfredo Martinez Jr., 42, and located a firearm in the vehicle, which he denied owning.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn November 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety executed a state search warrant on Martinez\\u2019s residence. During the search, agents found a .357 revolver and two shotguns. Martinez again denied ownership of the firearms, claiming that two individuals had left items at his house that could not fit in their vehicle and that, despite being a convicted felon, he agreed to store their things.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFurther investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that one of the shotguns found in the search of Martinez\\u2019s residence had been stolen. On Jan. 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Martinez for two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Jan. 26, 2023, a Val Verde Sheriff\\u2019s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on Martinez.\\u0026nbsp; The deputy notified an ATF special agent, who arrived on scene and located a loaded MP-25 pistol along with an additional loaded magazine inside Martinez\\u2019s vehicle. Martinez was arrested for the charges from the Jan. 11, 2023, indictment. A search warrant was executed on Martinez\\u2019s residence, resulting in the recovery of two more firearms and assorted ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMartinez pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Martinez to the statutory maximum.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe ATF and TX DPS CID investigated the case with assistance from the Val Verde Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Ellis-Dotson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allyson Breech prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T08:29:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788870583\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T08:27:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788870467\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAlfredo Martinez Jr. was sentenced in Del Rio to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Del Rio Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtx\\/pr\\/del-rio-felon-sentenced-15-years-federal-prison-firearm-possession\",\"uuid\":\"3f2cd6b3-de0c-4fb1-973a-b8f3f756c766\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESTATESBORO, Georgia:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAn illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant\\u2019s have also been sentenced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe\\u0026nbsp;sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge L. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMarcial Diaz-Sanchez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EIsaiah Joseph Jaimes\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 25, of South Houston, Texas, was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs described in court documents and testimony, in November 2024, Diaz-Sanchez and his co-defendant attempted to sell a vehicle, which they knew had been stolen from Texas. The defendants used Facebook Marketplace to negotiate and arrange the sale of the vehicle, which unbeknownst to them was to an undercover Jenkins County Deputy Sheriff.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA subsequent search of the defendant\\u2019s phone revealed photos of high-end vehicles, counterfeit Texas titles and VINs, and large amounts of U.S. currency.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn additional co-defendant, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERene Armando Reyes Velasquez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 24, of El Salvador, was previously sentenced in June after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cKnow this: those that steal another\\u2019s property and disregard federal law will face justice,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cOur extensive relationship with our law enforcement partners was instrumental in the prosecution of this case, directly impacting the safety of our communities and security of our property.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cStealing vehicles and attempting to turn stolen property into profit comes with serious consequences,\\u201d said Brad Snider, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta\\u2019s Statesboro office. \\u201cThe FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to disrupt these schemes, recover stolen property, and hold those responsible accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI and Jenkins County Sheriff\\u2019s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Kelsey L. Scanlon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T09:03:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788872639\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T08:58:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788872302\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"84-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant\\u2019s have also been sentenced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally transporting a stolen motor vehicle\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3f6710a-213c-41e6-b11b-3abebf00d2b3\",\"name\":\"Consumer Protection\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-illegally-transporting-stolen-motor-vehicle\",\"uuid\":\"93a68375-2e04-4276-b172-a73f51b974de\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentence\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharge(s)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ELovechild McGuire, 33\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E28 years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EChristopher Flax, 50\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E13 years\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EAmiee Ranes, 46\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ETrent Marion. 39\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EUnique Carter, 28\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ESeven years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ECamri Outlaw, 31\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ETime served, two years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid\\u2011level distributors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization\\u2019s main stash site.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMethamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. \\u201cDrug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case.\\u0026nbsp;The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:25:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788881152\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:16:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788880605\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/evansville-drug-trafficking-organization-dismantled-six-head-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0d411645-5679-408c-bb45-88f694417c48\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s02 entity-image-1460436\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/d02\\/public\\/2026-09\\/aaron_cotten.jpeg?itok=5f9NAI_s\\u0022 width=\\u0022200\\u0022 height=\\u0022281\\u0022 alt=\\u0022aaron_cotten.jpeg\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EWILMINGTON, NC \\u2013 A federal judge sentenced Aaron Cotten, 50, of Sanford, NC, to 10 and half years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribution and possession with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, possession with intent to distribution 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCotten\\u2019s repeated traffic stops revealed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, along with cash and signs of armed associates, showing just how deeply he was involved in the dangerous drug game,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. \\u201cHis efforts to hide this poison, including stuffing a pound of fentanyl inside a car\\u2019s engine bay, put communities across Eastern North Carolina at serious risk. With prior convictions for violent crimes and a steady supply line stretching from Charlotte to Down East. This conviction shuts down a major pipeline of deadly drugs in our region. This Big Shark Bad Boy will no longer swim in the shallows threatening our children and communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits \\u2013 Do Right.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 15, 2022, the Duplin County Sheriff\\u2019s Department stopped a vehicle with Cotten in the front passenger seat. Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding more than $15,000 in cash near Cotten\\u2019s seat. When deputies attempted to search Cotten, he became combative, resisting arrest. Deputies then searched Cotten and recovered more than a pound of cocaine and several ounces of fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 3, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Department conducted another traffic stop involving Cotten, who again sat in the front passenger seat. After a K\\u20119 alerted to narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and discovered approximately one pound of fentanyl concealed in the engine bay of the car. Deputies also found a gun on another passenger.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation revealed that Cotten distributed pounds and pounds of cocaine and fentanyl across Eastern North Carolina. He sourced the drugs from Charlotte. Cotten has prior convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and second\\u2011degree burglary.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence reinforces our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cCocaine and fentanyl trafficking threaten the safety of our communities, and combating these threats requires teamwork and strong partnerships across law enforcement. We will continue working together to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs and make progress toward a Fentanyl Free America.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWherever illegal narcotics are being sold, you find that the likelihood of violent crime greatly increases,\\u201d said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. \\u201cEvery drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEllis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.\\u0026nbsp; The ATF, DEA, Jacksonville Police Department, Beulaville Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office\\u0026nbsp;investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on our\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ednc\\u0022\\u003Ewebsite\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.nced.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.nced.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/ShowIndex.pl\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00068-M-RJ\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:44:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788882289\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:38:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788881908\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460436\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"3a244ae8-fdd6-4b5b-a11a-c28dcea2b320\"},\"alt\":\"aaron_cotten.jpeg\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sanford Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ednc\\/pr\\/sanford-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"c9f75182-f93c-452d-8a84-0b85e85f5e99\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A Kansas woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and eight counts each of bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, in October 2025, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERachael Kennedy\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 37, entered multiple financial institutions in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and impersonated actual account holders by presenting fictitious U.S. passport cards in the account holders\\u2019 names. Kennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit. Kennedy was arrested in Canada after fleeing from police when she left a bank in Houlton.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor bank fraud, Kennedy faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. For aggravated identity theft, she faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed; a $250,000 fine; and up to one year of supervised release. For passport fraud, Kennedy faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Department of State\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service, Portsmouth Resident Office, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Maine State Police, the Hampden Police Department, the Houlton Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Border Services Agency.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T14:31:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788892285\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maine\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T14:26:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788891971\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-me\\/pr\\/kansas-woman-pleads-guilty-bank-fraud-and-identity-theft-charges\",\"uuid\":\"169f0c92-3ec6-4f7b-950d-4a198a2e2f8b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Jeremy Francis Plonski was sentenced to 324 months in prison and 180 months of supervised release for the production of child pornography and the distribution of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPlonski was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kate M. Menendez on September 8, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, from about April 2023 to October 2023, Plonski produced 23 child pornographic videos. In some of the videos, Plonski, who worked as a Minnesota State Trooper, wore his uniform while personally sexually abusing a minor victim. Plonski then distributed videos that depicted him sexually abusing the minor victim on a social media application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant took an oath to protect the public, but he instead committed one of the most abhorrent offenses imaginable. Today\\u2019s sentence represents my office\\u2019s commitment to protect vulnerable children and the cooperation among federal and local law enforcement,\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs we said in our previous statement, no badge, no title, and no position will ever place anyone above the law. Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession. We are grateful for the work that went into this investigation and for the accountability that followed,\\u201d said Colonel Christina Bogojevic, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol. \\u201cJeremy Plonski was terminated by the Minnesota State Patrol.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cJeremy Plonski betrayed everything he swore to protect,\\u201d said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. \\u201cThe sexual abuse and exploitation of children is always horrendous crime, and as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Plonski knew the terrible harms that come to victims of these offenses. As we did in this case, the FBI and our partners will always act with immediacy and spare no resource to protect children from predators. While a prison sentence cannot repair the harms these crimes have caused, we hope that today\\u2019s outcome will offer the victim and their family the sense of peace, safety, justice, and hope they deserve as they work toward healing.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhen someone sexually abuses a child, it is repulsive to all of us, but when it is also someone who wears a badge, it is even more disturbing,\\u201d said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. \\u201cHe vowed to uphold the law and he broke that promise. We are thankful for this result and that he has been held accountable for his actions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and other law enforcement partners.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Minnesota.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the defendant\\u2019s\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/minnesota-state-trooper-charged-production-child-pornography\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Echarge\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/minnesota-state-trooper-indicted-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Eindictment\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E linked here.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:24:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902678\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Minnesota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:23:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902628\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years\\u2019 Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mn\\/pr\\/minnesota-state-trooper-sentenced-27-years-imprisonment-production-and-distribution\",\"uuid\":\"40abc803-df17-48cc-9c08-bbcf85ca23ee\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ELOUISIANA \\u2013ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\u0022)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on October 13, 2016.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETOVAR-MERCADO \\u003C\\/strong\\u003Efaces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release,\\u0026nbsp;and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.\\u0026nbsp;He is also eligible for a 10-year enhanced sentencing because of felony convictions in the Western District of Texas for illegal re-entry into the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the\\u0026nbsp;United States Border Patrol\\u0026nbsp;in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:12:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788898376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:03:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788897807\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ELOUISIANA \\u2013 \\u0026nbsp;ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\u0022)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Convictions \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/mexican-illegal-alien-indicted-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien-enhanced-penalty-prior\",\"uuid\":\"aff2b2dc-078f-4f69-b630-4c0e02b88089\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 A Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a one-day trial on April 13, 2026, a jury found Shawn Ryan Cowan, 46, guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents and at trial that Cowan, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, was keeping guns in his home. A tip to law enforcement led investigators to seek a warrant and search Cowan\\u2019s home.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere they found:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3bbdb5ab4e218f347a558ce8d5d12027\\u0022\\u003ERuger SR-22, .22 cal. pistol\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e62d4faf2b137725a47670e2ee873a195\\u0022\\u003ERaven Arms P25, .25 cal. pistol\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eccdc4e95ec38ea21eb981e9ef9efc80f\\u0022\\u003EF.LLI Pietta Fabrica D\\u0027Armi, Big Bore Rough Rider, .357 cal. revolver\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ee6ba4bc12f632fb7ef583a0a94af6b5a\\u0022\\u003EDerya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) TM22-A-18, .22 cal. rifle\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022edf6f03220fe17226c3c4915028fa9ecb\\u0022\\u003EMarlin Firearms Co. 20, .22 cal. rifle\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6f9376de586e6519e2c8d85d174b815c\\u0022\\u003EHigh Standard Sentinel, .22 cal. revolver\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022efd44e1ebc2292b33b0a81c51e970cb9f\\u0022\\u003ENorth American Arms NAA22, .22 cal. revolver\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ea05e129b8026369bbb6cc3a02f44f5fd\\u0022\\u003ESmith \\u0026amp; Wesson 18, .22 cal. revolver\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e5dcd766debb50589eaf433c2e26083f4\\u0022\\u003EDerya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) VRPA40, 12-gauge shotgun\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e5a49790129f7ad2b643366feebe51180\\u0022\\u003EHeritage Mfg. Inc. Rough Rider, .22 cal. revolver\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EInvestigators also found various types of ammunition.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECowan had been convicted previously of aggravated kidnapping, burglary, and possession of dangerous drugs in Montana and so was required to register as a violent offender for life. Cowan, who became belligerent with agents as he was arrested, acknowledged he was \\u201ctechnically a felon,\\u201d but said he owned guns because his conviction was fraudulently obtained by county officials.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF and Ravalli County Sheriff\\u2019s Office conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T13:25:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788888339\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T13:21:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788888108\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-237\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Following trial, Hamilton man sentenced to 2 years for unlawfully possessing firearms\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/following-trial-hamilton-man-sentenced-2-years-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"8b86debe-5a82-452c-9334-a6a8c873f2ab\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHOUSTON \\u2013 A 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EErik Guadalupe Ibarra Venegas pleaded guilty June 5.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Venegas to serve 16 months in federal prison and a $100 special assessment. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOct. 28, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a suspicious man pushing two bicycles and carrying tools in a cul-de-sac. Authorities found Venegas walking in the middle of the road obstructing traffic.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the police encounter, the defendant was asked if he had any firearms. Venegas showed the officer a 5.56 caliber pistol that was on his person.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVenegas had no identification and provided a fake name, but fingerprint analysis later confirmed his identity.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation revealed Venegas had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States. As a result, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHe has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHedwig Village Police Department, ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith and AUSA Byron Black prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:22:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788895324\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:19:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788895198\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal alien sentenced for firearm possession after visa overstay in Houston\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-firearm-possession-after-visa-overstay-houston\",\"uuid\":\"70eff3ba-3335-42db-ba16-adf595826e91\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. \\u2013 A Kansas City, Mo. man was charged after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDominic M. Miller, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint on Sept. 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe federal criminal complaint charges Miller with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of machine guns on July 24, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were conducting general patrol in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Propsect Avenue, when they noticed a vehicle driving with an improper license plate. Officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, Miller, and two other passengers. A computer check revealed Miller had an active warrant out of Kansas and he was arrested.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located two Glock handguns under the passenger floorboard. Both firearms were equipped with a machine gun conversion device, more commonly known as a \\u201cswitch.\\u201d These devices convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic firearms, more commonly known as machine guns. Laboratory testing confirmed that both firearms functioned as fully automatic machine guns. On Sept. 3, 2026, the Kansas City, Misouri Police Department crime lab located genetic information (\\u201cDNA\\u201d) consistent with Miller\\u2019s DNA on one of the firearms. Prior to this incident, Miller was convicted of the felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Jackson County, Mo., Case Number 2416-CR000871-01.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:16:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902190\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:14:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902078\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDominic M. Miller, 21, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a two-count criminal complaint after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Kansas City Man Arrested for Illegal Firearms\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/kansas-city-man-arrested-illegal-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"fdef3c6f-da06-421c-ae0a-839a53a36736\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066753\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:45:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065945\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/broken-bow-resident-pleads-guilty-three-counts-child-abuse-indian-country\",\"uuid\":\"a706c0a4-0464-4fde-8a26-5c5e70aabcab\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis indictment sends a clear message: we will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or compromise the security of our nation\\u0027s protected facilities,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\u201cThe Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute anyone who attempts to bypass federal gun laws and violate secure spaces.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe FBI will not tolerate acts that jeopardize public safety or the security of our nation\\u0027s protected institutions,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. \\u201cWe will continue working diligently with our law enforcement partners to investigate any individual who attempts to breach secure areas or circumvent federal firearms restrictions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to allegations contained in the indictment, in February 2026, Demandre Michael Frazier and Jessica Marie Zamora made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of two pistols, one a 9x19mm Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson and the other a .40 caliber Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson. Later, in April 2026, Jessica Zamora and a yet-to-be publicly unidentified defendant made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of a 10mm Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson pistol.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460496\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/photo_in_u.s._v._treyvon_jameel_currie_et_al_226-cr-00182-apg-ejy.png?itok=-u6AqV_L\\u0022 width=\\u0022361\\u0022 height=\\u0022301\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Photo of a Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EPhoto of a Smith \\u0026amp; Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged, on August 5, 2026, Treyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora, carrying a concealed weapon, entered and attempted to enter the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility. There are notices stating the pertinent prohibitions and penalties posted at all entrances of the facility.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETreyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora are each charged with one count of entry or attempted entry by fraud and false pretenses on real property of the United States with intent to commit a felony in that facility; one count of possession of a firearm in a secure federal facility; one count of unauthorized entry upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy Enclosed by a structural barrier; and one count of unauthorized introduction of a dangerous weapon upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy enclosed by a structural barrier. Zamora is also charged with two counts of illegal acquisition of a firearm. Demandre Michael Frazier is charged with one count of illegal acquisition of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA jury trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI and North Las Vegas Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T19:03:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788908617\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T18:58:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788908311\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460496\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"5ed1d370-fcd7-40bd-95c0-e43d7c87d240\"},\"alt\":\"Photo of a Smith \\u0026 Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Three Individuals Indicted for Illegal Acquisition of Firearms and Unauthorized Entry Into a Secure Federal Facility With a Firearm in North Las Vegas\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/three-individuals-indicted-illegal-acquisition-firearms-and-unauthorized-entry-secure\",\"uuid\":\"214feb88-9269-4903-84e3-2b61382583d9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EINDIANAPOLIS- Andrew Wade Case, 39, of Columbus, Indiana, has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, as well as distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. Upon release from federal prison, Case must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on December 19, 2024, Andrew Case forced Minor Victim 1\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 a child under the age of 12 and in his custody and care\\u2014 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a four-minute video.\\u0026nbsp;In addition to exploiting the child in his care, Case also distributed other child sexual abuse material to individuals over a peer\\u2011to\\u2011peer network.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Bloomington Police Department received alerts related to the videos Case shared. When investigators executed a search warrant at Case\\u2019s home, they found Minor Victim 1 living in severely neglected conditions, including sleeping on the floor amid insects and showing signs of untreated lice.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA forensic examination of Case\\u2019s cell phone revealed more than 600 images and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including content involving sadomasochistic abuse and other depictions of violence or exploitation of infants and toddlers.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u201cA child\\u2019s home should be a sanctuary of safety, trust, and protection where they are shielded from the dangers of the world. Instead, this safe space was violated by the defendant. It is paramount\\u0026nbsp;we safeguard children from every threat, especially when those threats come from within their own home,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Esaid Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\u003Cem\\u003E \\u201cWhile this child has endured irreversible trauma, we hope today\\u2019s sentence helps restore her trust in the justice system and offers a measure of peace as she moves forward.\\u201d\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u201cThe Secret Service is committed to leveraging the full weight of its cyber and forensic resources to support investigations into crimes against children,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Esaid Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office.\\u003Cem\\u003E \\u201cThis case is a sobering reminder of the threat a child can face inside of their own home. Our investigators are committed to using every tool available to hold those who victimize children in their care accountable. We thank the Indiana State Police and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their steadfast partnership throughout this investigation, and we\\u2019ll continue to work together to ensure anyone preying on a child in our community is brought to justice.\\u201d \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force maintains zero tolerance for adults who abuse positions of trust to sexually exploit, harm, or abuse children,\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Esaid Indiana State Police Lieutenant Christopher Cecil, the commander of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.\\u003Cem\\u003E \\u0022 We are committed to locating, investigating, and arresting offenders who prey on children. No child deserves to live in fear.\\u0022\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Secret Service and the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case.\\u0026nbsp;The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/project-safe-childhood\\u0022\\u003EProject Safe Childhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state,\\u0026nbsp;and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/project-safe-childhood\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/project-safe-childhood\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a\\u0026nbsp;multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children.\\u0026nbsp;Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.\\u0026nbsp;Visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.\\u003Cstrong\\u003Einternetcrimesagainstkids.com\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;to learn more about their efforts.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T13:09:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788887342\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T13:07:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788887260\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\" Columbus Man Receives 27-Year Federal Sentence for Sexually Exploiting Child in His Care\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/columbus-man-receives-27-year-federal-sentence-sexually-exploiting-child-his-care\",\"uuid\":\"8dca788e-7b5c-4638-b38e-2f4d6ab60622\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESHERMAN, Texas \\u2013A Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S.\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERaymundo Duran Baza, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on September 4, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, from September 2024 through October 2024, Baza and at least one other person conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, while not being a licensed firearms dealer.\\u0026nbsp; During this time, Baza was responsible for buying and re-selling firearms and Machine Gun Conversion Devices for profit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E##\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T10:13:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788876795\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T10:09:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788876581\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S.\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Fannin County man sentenced to federal prison for buying and selling firearms without a license\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtx\\/pr\\/fannin-county-man-sentenced-federal-prison-buying-and-selling-firearms-without-license\",\"uuid\":\"509eeeee-58cb-47d5-b7e5-6558c6f07d94\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERUTLAND \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alec Diaz, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cBenn Tenn,\\u201d 22, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 144 months\\u2019 imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between January 2023 and September 2025, Diaz was a manager and supervisor of a drug trafficking organization operating around Bennington, Vermont. Diaz and his associates imported kilograms of cocaine into Vermont on multiple occasions. Once the cocaine was in Vermont, 90% of it was cooked into cocaine base. Diaz and his associates also regularly imported fentanyl. Numerous individuals, including a juvenile, distributed drugs on behalf of Diaz, at times selling over 1,000 bags of fentanyl a day. On September 24, 2025, law enforcement arrested Diaz in Pownal, Vermont. In the camper where Diaz was found, agents seized a .45 caliber handgun, approximately 26 grams of cocaine, approximately 32 grams of cocaine base, and $15,000 cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to drug trafficking, Diaz was involved in firearms trafficking. Diaz obtained both handguns and AR-style rifles from a Bennington-area resident, and later transferred them to another drug trafficker. Diaz also used firearms during his drug trafficking activities, displaying them to intimidate others and protect his drug trafficking operation. On at least one occasion, Diaz obtained a firearm in exchange for drugs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Bennington County Sheriff\\u2019s Department, the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Bennington Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield (MA) Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Cambridge (NY) Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Ophardt added: \\u201cFor two and a half years, Diaz pushed kilograms of poisonous drugs into Vermont for profit while facilitating the movement of firearms to other drug traffickers. Diaz\\u2019 lengthy prison sentence should serve as a warning to others who would do the same.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Diaz was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Samuel Ansell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:40:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788900004\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:36:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788899803\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Armed Drug Trafficker from Springfield, Massachusetts Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine in Bennington, Vermont\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/armed-drug-trafficker-springfield-massachusetts-sentenced-144-months-conspiring\",\"uuid\":\"05cc83ee-0879-45f5-8225-a37e797e25fe\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TAYLOR DZICZEK, 44, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a bank robbery spree in 2021 and 2022.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between September 2021 and August 2022, Dziczek committed the following 14 robberies and one attempted robbery of banks and credit unions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eae36fa98158f3e6160345464aa52ecb6\\u0022\\u003ESeptember 9, 2021 \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;Arrha Credit Union, West Springfield, Mass.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ecf77a0c889f86730db1cec3669877f29\\u0022\\u003ESeptember 20, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; American Eagle Credit Union, Enfield, Conn.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb38704238634a823d836e9b1a6653a0c\\u0022\\u003EOctober 4, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; People\\u2019s United Bank, Brattleboro, Vt.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e99c5116be62884fbada4e987d0853a30\\u0022\\u003EOctober 15, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Webster Bank, East Windsor, Conn.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e596bd3d85e6c00ac93dfbac8687cea4e\\u0022\\u003EOctober 21, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; People\\u2019s United Bank, Brattleboro, Vt. (attempt)\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6097c50d7f8450fee5f262fbeff9b97b\\u0022\\u003EOctober 22, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Webster Bank, Somers, Conn.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e688ea708cca784d62fc58d235d7499d8\\u0022\\u003ENovember 5, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Workers Credit Union, Athol, Mass.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e29ca0b530461bf3e3c178549056c99f4\\u0022\\u003ENovember 19, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Liberty Bank, Avon, Conn.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e3ab6ae7c17f1cb75a4297ccbfee29769\\u0022\\u003ENovember 20, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Savings Bank of Walpole, Keene, N.H.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e05279e9ac0eb07bcb57fa7fbefe60c2d\\u0022\\u003EDecember 16, 2021\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Montague, Mass.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6a2f14c9f0e8c1234c77427a7593b2f0\\u0022\\u003EJanuary 6, 2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;KeyBank, East Windsor, Conn\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec1d16f89036035d058c93c218280bac1\\u0022\\u003EJanuary 21, 2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Franklin First Credit Union, Greenfield, Mass.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e11dc3d63d6865fa10e7d00db8e491e80\\u0022\\u003EMay 26, 2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;People\\u2019s United Bank, Plainville, Conn.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e624cbd1b0deb622269df201fdbeda072\\u0022\\u003EJune 3, 2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;TD Bank, Nashua, N.H.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e4fd091f7102b8924dc95d05a9c135616\\u0022\\u003EAugust 17, 2022\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Liberty Bank, Meriden, Conn.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring each robbery, Dziczek typically turned off his cellphone and drove his car with the license plates removed to the bank or credit union.\\u0026nbsp; He then entered the bank or credit union wearing a hooded sweatshirt, surgical mask, and baseball cap, and handed the teller a note demanding cash in large denominations and claiming to have a gun.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the investigation, Dziczek was identified as a suspect who robbed the Peoples United Bank, located at 117 East Street in Plainville, Connecticut, on May 26, 2022.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, Dziczek entered the bank, approached the teller counter and gave the teller a note stating words to the effect of, \\u201cI have a gun. Don\\u2018t call 911. Don\\u2018t set off any alarms.\\u201c\\u0026nbsp; When the teller stated she did not have any more money, Dziczek pulled what appeared to be a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt and made additional statements including \\u201cGive me all the money,\\u201d \\u201cI have a gun,\\u201d and \\u201cDon\\u2018t be a hero.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDziczek removed some of the paper money wrappers from the money he received from the teller and discarded them at the bank before he fled the scene.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Plainville Police detectives collected the discarded money wrappers as evidence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn October 21, 2022, FBI special agents surveilled Dziczek while he was in the MGM Casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, and retrieved an energy drink can with a black straw from which Dziczek was observed drinking.\\u0026nbsp; Laboratory analysis connected DNA found on the straw to DNA found on discarded money wrappers from the Plainville bank robbery.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDziczek has been detained since his arrest on December 1, 2022.\\u0026nbsp; On September 26, 2025, he pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Nagala ordered Dziczek to pay restitution in the total amount of $82,567.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis investigation was conducted by the FBI New Haven Division\\u2019s Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Boston Division, FBI Albany Division, Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Athol (Mass.) Police Department, Avon (Conn.) Police Department, Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Department, Chicopee (Mass.) Police Department, East Windsor (Conn.) Police Department, Enfield (Conn.) Police Department, Greenfield (Mass.) Police Department, Keene (N.H.) Police Department, Meriden (Conn.) Police Department, Montague (Mass.) Police Department, Nashua (N.H.) Police Department, Plainville (Conn.) Police Department, Somers (Conn.) Police Department, and Springfield (Mass.) Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services provided valuable assistance to the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings, and Stephanie T. Levick.\\u0026nbsp; U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont and for their close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:42:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788903765\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:33:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788903227\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETAYLOR DZICZEK, 44, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a bank robbery spree in 2021 and 2022.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for New England Bank Robbery Spree\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/massachusetts-man-sentenced-more-7-years-federal-prison-new-england-bank-robbery-spree\",\"uuid\":\"c39e7a08-385e-4bac-b5ab-229194f6efc3\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460481\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b1c16092-8c72-4b08-b86b-2389ad59f586\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECAMDEN, N.J. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A Camden County man admitted to failing to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes for the employees of his business, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer\\u0026nbsp;and Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald\\u0026nbsp;announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETyrone Pitts, 60, of Lawnside, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Ren\\u00e9e Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of failing to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS payroll taxes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom 2020 through 2023, Pitts was the owner, operator, and president of a construction company called Arline Electrical Construction Services LLC (\\u201cAECS\\u201d).\\u0026nbsp; Pitts had the authority to exercise significant control over AECS\\u2019s financial affairs and was a \\u201cresponsible person\\u201d of AECS, meaning that he was required to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS the payroll taxes withheld from the wages of AECS\\u2019s employees. However, during that same time period, Pitts almost entirely failed to file Form 941 employment tax returns and failed to pay over to the IRS approximately $810,403 in employment taxes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe tax fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.\\u0026nbsp; Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General\\u0026nbsp;Colin M. McDonald credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to today\\u2019s guilty plea.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d).\\u0026nbsp; The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance t [...truncated 13350 characters...] -1460451\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-edca\\/media\\/1460451\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=337272\\u0022 title=\\u0022brown_kelly_complaint.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Ebrown_kelly_complaint.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\u2014 Kelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis, was arrested Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, on a criminal complaint for using her employer\\u2019s company credit card to make more than $4 million of unauthorized, personal purchases, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between November 2020 and October 2024, Brown worked as a bookkeeper at a leading Fresno business specializing in custom countertops and commercial hardwood products. In her role, she had access to the personally identifiable information of employees, including the business\\u2019s owner.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn January 2021, Brown recommended that the owner obtain an American Express credit card for business expenses. The owner, however, was not interested in obtaining an American Express credit card for himself or for his business. Nevertheless, two weeks later Brown gave the owner two American Express credit cards, one under the owner\\u2019s personal name and the other under the business name.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA few months later and unbeknownst to the owner, Brown obtained a credit card in her own name under the owner\\u2019s American Express account without his authorization. Brown began using this credit card for unauthorized personal expenses, including luxury retail purchases, travel, health and beauty treatments, and a down payment on a 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2022, Brown started an online apparel store, Western Edge Boutique. Around the same time, she made numerous clothing and apparel-related purchases on the unauthorized card.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBrown used the business\\u2019s bank account to make payments to American Express from 2021 through 2024 to conceal and further her fraud scheme. In late 2024, the owner discovered the scheme and fired Brown. Brown spent more than $4 million dollars on unauthorized purchases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arelis M. Clemente is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T13:23:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788888182\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:37:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788885478\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis, was arrested on a criminal complaint for using her employer\\u2019s company credit card to make more than $4 million of unauthorized, personal purchases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Clovis woman arrested for multimillion dollar fraud scheme \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edca\\/pr\\/clovis-woman-arrested-multimillion-dollar-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"2afbbfc4-8fcb-4115-8594-3d38c695c399\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson\\u2019s shell corporation or other vendors.\\u003Cbr\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney\\u2019s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:33:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788899588\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:31:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788899508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/former-foundation-it-manager-sentenced-prison-embezzling-nearly-1-million-employer\",\"uuid\":\"736edf4b-594e-4ff4-86d6-a8ef6fee1b4d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp; United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Holbert to 109 months\\u2019 imprisonment on the felon in possession charge and 46 months for violating his supervised release of a prior federal conviction, for a total of 155 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Holbert is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn October 4, 2025, at 0134 hours, an Omaha Police officer was patrolling The Old Market when he was alerted to a \\u201cperson with a gun\\u201d located \\u201cup the street\\u201d.\\u0026nbsp; The officer exited his cruiser at which time he heard a single gunshot. A short time later, officers located Victim 1 who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hip. A description of the shooter was provided along with his path of travel. Officers located an individual matching the suspect\\u2019s description near 13th and Farnam streets, identifying him as Holbert.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOfficers canvassed the area and located a single spent 9mm casing stamped \\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\u201d at 12th and Howard streets. Officers canvassed the path of Holbert\\u2019s travel and located a discarded firearm directly in front of 1210 Howard Street. The firearm was located underneath a black Chevrolet SUV and identified as a Glock 43x 9mm handgun. The firearm was equipped with an extended high-capacity magazine that contained several rounds of \\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\u201d live ammunition.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOfficers reviewed video surveillance footage and noted Holbert appeared at approximately 0136 hours walking north on South 13th Street. During this time, Holbert appeared to observe a marked police cruiser at which time he began running north out of the camera view toward the Gene Leahy Mall. At 0150 hours, Holbert can be seen returning to the north facing entrance of an area hotel. Holbert remained in this area until he was taken into custody.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOfficers obtained additional video surveillance from area businesses.\\u0026nbsp; The videos show Victim 1 and Holbert engaged in a verbal altercation on the corner of 13th and Howard streets. Holbert can be seen clutching his waistband repeatedly, as if concealing an item hidden underneath his clothing. Holbert and the victim then walk out of camera view to the southwest before a single gunshot is heard on the video. Holbert is then seen running east on Howard Street out of the camera view. The path of travel for Holbert was also noted to be the path where the firearm was located by officers.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe spent 9mm casing stamped \\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\u201d recovered on scene was determined to have been fired from the recovered Glock Model 43X 9mm firearm. Two fingerprints were recovered from the firearm\\u2019s internal magazine. A senior forensic technician with the Omaha Police Forensic Investigations Unit identified the fingerprints as belonging to Holbert.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHolbert has multiple prior felony convictions for Carrying a Concealed Weapon -2\\u003Csup\\u003End\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E offense, possession of a firearm by felon, both in the District Court for Douglas County, Nebraska.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHolbert was arrested in 2017 as part of Operation Brass Catcher, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives-led operation targeting Crips gang members.\\u0026nbsp; Holbert was indicted on 10 counts, including four counts of distributing crack cocaine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Holbert pleaded guilty to several counts and was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 custody in the Bureau of Prisons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn January 21, 2025, Holbert, along with several thousand inmates, was granted Executive Clemency by the Biden administration and released after serving just 100 months of his original 240-month sentence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:26:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902770\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nebraska\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:24:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902657\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKhyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Omaha Man Granted Presidential Clemency Convicted Again: Felon in Possession of a Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ne\\/pr\\/omaha-man-granted-presidential-clemency-convicted-again-felon-possession-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"f5a00bd7-d2cb-438c-9752-716585fa3825\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJacksonville, Florida \\u2013 Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, law enforcement officers received a cybertip that a social media user from Jacksonville had uploaded files of CSAM. After reviewing the information in the cybertip, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the social media account and learned that it belonged to Whitaker. After reviewing Whitaker\\u2019s Facebook account, further evidence led to a search warrant of Whitaker\\u2019s home where his cellphone was seized and searched. Whitaker\\u2019s phone contained more than 100 images and videos depicting CSAM.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time of this offense, Whitaker was on probation following a Florida state prison sentence for possession of child pornography. In addition, since Whitaker has been classified as a sexually violent predator, once he serves his prison sentence, under Florida law, he will be committed to a security facility for control, care, and treatment.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force.\\u0026nbsp;It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIt is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:55:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788886546\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:55:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788886500\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJacksonville, Florida \\u2013 Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/jacksonville-sex-predator-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possession-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"55c683dc-c9fb-49f3-8ecc-97320e43aace\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Dortch on August 17, 2026, and Orduna on August 31, 2026, to 204 months\\u2019 imprisonment: 120 months for bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. McKnight was sentenced on August 31, 2026, to 60 months\\u2019 imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. McKnight\\u2019s sentence will be served consecutive to concurrent 96-month sentences imposed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska and U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system. After Dortch and Orduna are released from prison, they will begin five-year terms of supervised release. McKnight will serve a three-year term of supervised release concurrent to the other terms of supervised release ordered in his prior cases. All were ordered to pay restitution to Community State Bank in the amount of $71,097.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween October 3 and November 7, 2023, McKnight and Dortch had a group chat where they agreed to \\u201cget money\\u201d and began plotting. At that time, McKnight was incarcerated at FCI Pollock because of a prior federal bank robbery conviction.\\u0026nbsp; McKnight utilized a smuggled phone to initiate the group chat.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn January 14, 2025, Orduna and Dortch were captured on video surveillance arriving at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, and ultimately drove to the Community State Bank, where they were captured on video surveillance entering the bank wearing disguises to include realistic human face masks with handguns drawn.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThey pointed handguns at the bank employees and demanded money.\\u0026nbsp; Dortch grabbed an employee, led her to the vault at gunpoint, and demanded she place the money in a bag.\\u0026nbsp; Dortch and Orduna directed bank employees to spread bills to ensure there were no dye packs. Orduna took the money from the teller drawers, then Dortch and Orduna zip-tied the bank employees, instructed them to lie on the floor of the vault, and then closed the vault with the employees inside.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDortch and Orduna left the bank with $71,097.00, including bait bills.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning on January 25, 2025, McKnight, while still in prison, searched eBay for realistic, silicone human face masks and saved maps to various banks in Nebraska and Iowa with a smuggled phone and subsequently used the phone to email Dortch about banks that presented good robbery prospects. He advised Dortch about multiple banks in rural towns outside of Omaha, estimated their cash on hand, the amount of law enforcement presence in those towns, expected law enforcement response times to those banks, and he provided maps to the banks.\\u0026nbsp; McKnight specifically identified a bank in Modale, Iowa.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 7, 2025, GPS tracking information taken in combination with records from Dortch and Orduna\\u2019s phone providers showed that Orduna and Dortch met up and travelled approximately 35 minutes together to Modale, Iowa, where they drove by the Community Bank to \\u201ccase\\u201d it.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 12, 2025, law enforcement foiled their apparent plans and arrested Dortch and Orduna at their respective residences and executed search warrants. At Orduna\\u2019s residence, law enforcement recovered $5,520 and a firearm. At Dortch\\u2019s residence, law enforcement recovered $11,210 including the Community State Bank bait bills, two firearms, the masks worn by Dortch and Orduna, and clothing worn during the robbery.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese sentences demonstrate that violence does not pay,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. \\u201cIf you take a gun into a business and assault innocent employees who are simply doing their job, the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office will hold you maximumly accountable in federal court for those choices.\\u0026nbsp; The deputies and police officers that recovered the stolen money and the firearm performed a great public service in this case, and I thank them for it.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Police Department, and Saunders County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:28:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902887\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nebraska\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:26:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788902784\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Omaha Men and Federal Inmate Sentenced for Cedar Bluffs Armed Bank Robbery\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ne\\/pr\\/omaha-men-and-federal-inmate-sentenced-cedar-bluffs-armed-bank-robbery\",\"uuid\":\"6887a28f-d404-47f2-9a56-c819ae9471a4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, a Russian national and web developer who was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, appeared in federal court last week on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his alleged role in a transnational conspiracy responsible for large\\u2011scale bank account takeovers.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis investigation and indictment underscore our commitment to disrupting large-scale cyber theft,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cWith assistance from our international partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize technology for personal gain and hold them fully accountable in an American courtroom.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFilimonov allegedly used spoofed domains and fraudulent login pages to target unsuspecting online banking customers, stealing millions from victims,\\u201d said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. \\u201cThis announcement is a powerful demonstration of the value of our partnerships on cybercrime, without which these extraditions and arrests would not be possible.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from November 2023 through October 2025, Filimonov and his co\\u2011conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search\\u2011engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspirators used the stolen credentials to access bank accounts, review account balances, and initiate unauthorized wire transfers to steal bank account funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment also alleges that Filimonov developed and maintained online infrastructure supporting the operation, including interactive databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture and transmit sensitive authentication data. Filimonov and his co-conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain millions of dollars from victim accounts, including accounts held by companies located in the Northern District of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the charged scheme, the Department of Justice\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-announces-seizure-stolen-password-database-used-bank-account-takeover\\u0022\\u003Epreviously seized the domain\\u003C\\/a\\u003E web3adspanels.org, which operated as a backend server storing stolen credentials harvested from fraudulent banking websites. The seized server contained thousands of compromised credentials, including those belonging to victims located in the Northern District of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESince January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant and to follow\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.fbi.gov\\/investigate\\/cyber\\/alerts\\/2025\\/account-takeover-fraud-via-impersonation-of-financial-institution-support\\u0022\\u003Esteps recommended by the FBI\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, including regularly monitoring financial accounts, using \\u201cBookmarks\\u201d or \\u201cFavorites\\u201d for navigating to login websites, and guarding against phishing attempts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 4, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, of Russia, w [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01RsqLiCSdzhfz8TnYjPshzb, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.307

Inner payload

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tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.308

Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.309

Inner payload

{
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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":5},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.4913530349731445},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBURLINGTON \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow\\\\u2019s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: \\\\u201cI am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:47:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896876\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:11:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788894663\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/senegalese-man-sentenced-17-months-unlawfully-reentering-united-states-after-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e29a4662-0088-441c-b12c-b5ea6baca3d5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to commit bank fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between July and October 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESean Stevens\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 23, fraudulently obtained money by driving coconspirators to bank locations, instructing them on what to do inside, and providing them with fictitious identification cards in order to allow them access to legitimate customer accounts. Stevens also agreed with coconspirators to travel to banks outside of Maine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles \\\\u2013 Enforcement Services Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:41:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896462\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maine\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-me\\\\/pr\\\\/new-york-man-pleads-guilty-bank-fraud-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0a6262af-15cd-4906-87ed-37161ab98754\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer.\\\\u0026nbsp;Belvin faces a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on March 21, 2026, Belvin was the transferee of a Glock handgun from a firearm store in Bradenton. During the transfer, Belvin falsely stated that he was the actual transferee or buyer of the handgun, when in fact, he was obtaining the handgun on behalf of a juvenile. Belvin subsequently provided the handgun to the juvenile after leaving the store.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palmetto Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Jeff Chang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:31:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895918\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:30:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895855\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer.\\\\u0026nbsp;Belvin faces a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Palmetto Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/palmetto-man-pleads-guilty-straw-purchase-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ba551393-8332-4af1-8702-acfe6b67d690\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEL RIO, Texas \\\\u2013 A Del Rio felon was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in July 2022, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division special agents conducted a traffic stop on Alfredo Martinez Jr., 42, and located a firearm in the vehicle, which he denied owning.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn November 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety executed a state search warrant on Martinez\\\\u2019s residence. During the search, agents found a .357 revolver and two shotguns. Martinez again denied ownership of the firearms, claiming that two individuals had left items at his house that could not fit in their vehicle and that, despite being a convicted felon, he agreed to store their things.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFurther investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that one of the shotguns found in the search of Martinez\\\\u2019s residence had been stolen. On Jan. 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Martinez for two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Jan. 26, 2023, a Val Verde Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on Martinez.\\\\u0026nbsp; The deputy notified an ATF special agent, who arrived on scene and located a loaded MP-25 pistol along with an additional loaded magazine inside Martinez\\\\u2019s vehicle. Martinez was arrested for the charges from the Jan. 11, 2023, indictment. A search warrant was executed on Martinez\\\\u2019s residence, resulting in the recovery of two more firearms and assorted ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMartinez pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Martinez to the statutory maximum.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe ATF and TX DPS CID investigated the case with assistance from the Val Verde Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Ellis-Dotson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allyson Breech prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T08:29:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788870583\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T08:27:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788870467\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlfredo Martinez Jr. was sentenced in Del Rio to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Del Rio Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/del-rio-felon-sentenced-15-years-federal-prison-firearm-possession\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3f2cd6b3-de0c-4fb1-973a-b8f3f756c766\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESTATESBORO, Georgia:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAn illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant\\\\u2019s have also been sentenced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe\\\\u0026nbsp;sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge L. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. \\\\u201cMeg\\\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMarcial Diaz-Sanchez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EIsaiah Joseph Jaimes\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 25, of South Houston, Texas, was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs described in court documents and testimony, in November 2024, Diaz-Sanchez and his co-defendant attempted to sell a vehicle, which they knew had been stolen from Texas. The defendants used Facebook Marketplace to negotiate and arrange the sale of the vehicle, which unbeknownst to them was to an undercover Jenkins County Deputy Sheriff.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA subsequent search of the defendant\\\\u2019s phone revealed photos of high-end vehicles, counterfeit Texas titles and VINs, and large amounts of U.S. currency.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn additional co-defendant, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERene Armando Reyes Velasquez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 24, of El Salvador, was previously sentenced in June after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cKnow this: those that steal another\\\\u2019s property and disregard federal law will face justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\\\u201cOur extensive relationship with our law enforcement partners was instrumental in the prosecution of this case, directly impacting the safety of our communities and security of our property.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStealing vehicles and attempting to turn stolen property into profit comes with serious consequences,\\\\u201d said Brad Snider, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta\\\\u2019s Statesboro office. \\\\u201cThe FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to disrupt these schemes, recover stolen property, and hold those responsible accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and Jenkins County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Kelsey L. Scanlon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T09:03:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788872639\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T08:58:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788872302\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"84-26\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant\\\\u2019s have also been sentenced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally transporting a stolen motor vehicle\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3f6710a-213c-41e6-b11b-3abebf00d2b3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Consumer Protection\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdga\\\\/pr\\\\/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-illegally-transporting-stolen-motor-vehicle\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"93a68375-2e04-4276-b172-a73f51b974de\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentence\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharge(s)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELovechild McGuire, 33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E28 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EChristopher Flax, 50\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E13 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAmiee Ranes, 46\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETrent Marion. 39\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUnique Carter, 28\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeven years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECamri Outlaw, 31\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETime served, two years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid\\\\u2011level distributors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization\\\\u2019s main stash site.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMethamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,\\\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. \\\\u201cDrug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:25:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788881152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:16:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788880605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/evansville-drug-trafficking-organization-dismantled-six-head-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d411645-5679-408c-bb45-88f694417c48\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s02 entity-image-1460436\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d02\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/aaron_cotten.jpeg?itok=5f9NAI_s\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022200\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022281\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022aaron_cotten.jpeg\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWILMINGTON, NC \\\\u2013 A federal judge sentenced Aaron Cotten, 50, of Sanford, NC, to 10 and half years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribution and possession with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, possession with intent to distribution 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCotten\\\\u2019s repeated traffic stops revealed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, along with cash and signs of armed associates, showing just how deeply he was involved in the dangerous drug game,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. \\\\u201cHis efforts to hide this poison, including stuffing a pound of fentanyl inside a car\\\\u2019s engine bay, put communities across Eastern North Carolina at serious risk. With prior convictions for violent crimes and a steady supply line stretching from Charlotte to Down East. This conviction shuts down a major pipeline of deadly drugs in our region. This Big Shark Bad Boy will no longer swim in the shallows threatening our children and communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits \\\\u2013 Do Right.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 15, 2022, the Duplin County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department stopped a vehicle with Cotten in the front passenger seat. Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding more than $15,000 in cash near Cotten\\\\u2019s seat. When deputies attempted to search Cotten, he became combative, resisting arrest. Deputies then searched Cotten and recovered more than a pound of cocaine and several ounces of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 3, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department conducted another traffic stop involving Cotten, who again sat in the front passenger seat. After a K\\\\u20119 alerted to narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and discovered approximately one pound of fentanyl concealed in the engine bay of the car. Deputies also found a gun on another passenger.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed that Cotten distributed pounds and pounds of cocaine and fentanyl across Eastern North Carolina. He sourced the drugs from Charlotte. Cotten has prior convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and second\\\\u2011degree burglary.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence reinforces our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cCocaine and fentanyl trafficking threaten the safety of our communities, and combating these threats requires teamwork and strong partnerships across law enforcement. We will continue working together to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs and make progress toward a Fentanyl Free America.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWherever illegal narcotics are being sold, you find that the likelihood of violent crime greatly increases,\\\\u201d said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. \\\\u201cEvery drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEllis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.\\\\u0026nbsp; The ATF, DEA, Jacksonville Police Department, Beulaville Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Lee County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u0026nbsp;investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on our\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewebsite\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/ShowIndex.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00068-M-RJ\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:44:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788882289\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:38:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788881908\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460436\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a244ae8-fdd6-4b5b-a11a-c28dcea2b320\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"aaron_cotten.jpeg\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sanford Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\/pr\\\\/sanford-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c9f75182-f93c-452d-8a84-0b85e85f5e99\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A Kansas woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and eight counts each of bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, in October 2025, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERachael Kennedy\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 37, entered multiple financial institutions in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and impersonated actual account holders by presenting fictitious U.S. passport cards in the account holders\\\\u2019 names. Kennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit. Kennedy was arrested in Canada after fleeing from police when she left a bank in Houlton.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor bank fraud, Kennedy faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. For aggravated identity theft, she faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed; a $250,000 fine; and up to one year of supervised release. For passport fraud, Kennedy faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Department of State\\\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service, Portsmouth Resident Office, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Maine State Police, the Hampden Police Department, the Houlton Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Border Services Agency.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T14:31:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788892285\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maine\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T14:26:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788891971\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-me\\\\/pr\\\\/kansas-woman-pleads-guilty-bank-fraud-and-identity-theft-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"169f0c92-3ec6-4f7b-950d-4a198a2e2f8b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Jeremy Francis Plonski was sentenced to 324 months in prison and 180 months of supervised release for the production of child pornography and the distribution of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPlonski was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kate M. Menendez on September 8, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, from about April 2023 to October 2023, Plonski produced 23 child pornographic videos. In some of the videos, Plonski, who worked as a Minnesota State Trooper, wore his uniform while personally sexually abusing a minor victim. Plonski then distributed videos that depicted him sexually abusing the minor victim on a social media application.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took an oath to protect the public, but he instead committed one of the most abhorrent offenses imaginable. Today\\\\u2019s sentence represents my office\\\\u2019s commitment to protect vulnerable children and the cooperation among federal and local law enforcement,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs we said in our previous statement, no badge, no title, and no position will ever place anyone above the law. Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession. We are grateful for the work that went into this investigation and for the accountability that followed,\\\\u201d said Colonel Christina Bogojevic, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol. \\\\u201cJeremy Plonski was terminated by the Minnesota State Patrol.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cJeremy Plonski betrayed everything he swore to protect,\\\\u201d said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. \\\\u201cThe sexual abuse and exploitation of children is always horrendous crime, and as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Plonski knew the terrible harms that come to victims of these offenses. As we did in this case, the FBI and our partners will always act with immediacy and spare no resource to protect children from predators. While a prison sentence cannot repair the harms these crimes have caused, we hope that today\\\\u2019s outcome will offer the victim and their family the sense of peace, safety, justice, and hope they deserve as they work toward healing.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen someone sexually abuses a child, it is repulsive to all of us, but when it is also someone who wears a badge, it is even more disturbing,\\\\u201d said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. \\\\u201cHe vowed to uphold the law and he broke that promise. We are thankful for this result and that he has been held accountable for his actions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and other law enforcement partners.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Minnesota.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the defendant\\\\u2019s\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/minnesota-state-trooper-charged-production-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Echarge\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/minnesota-state-trooper-indicted-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eindictment\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:24:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902678\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:23:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902628\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/minnesota-state-trooper-sentenced-27-years-imprisonment-production-and-distribution\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"40abc803-df17-48cc-9c08-bbcf85ca23ee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on October 13, 2016.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETOVAR-MERCADO \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efaces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release,\\\\u0026nbsp;and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;He is also eligible for a 10-year enhanced sentencing because of felony convictions in the Western District of Texas for illegal re-entry into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Border Patrol\\\\u0026nbsp;in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:12:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788898376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:03:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788897807\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013 \\\\u0026nbsp;ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Convictions \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-illegal-alien-indicted-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien-enhanced-penalty-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aff2b2dc-078f-4f69-b630-4c0e02b88089\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter a one-day trial on April 13, 2026, a jury found Shawn Ryan Cowan, 46, guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents and at trial that Cowan, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, was keeping guns in his home. A tip to law enforcement led investigators to seek a warrant and search Cowan\\\\u2019s home.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere they found:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3bbdb5ab4e218f347a558ce8d5d12027\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERuger SR-22, .22 cal. pistol\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e62d4faf2b137725a47670e2ee873a195\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERaven Arms P25, .25 cal. pistol\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eccdc4e95ec38ea21eb981e9ef9efc80f\\\\u0022\\\\u003EF.LLI Pietta Fabrica D\\\\u0027Armi, Big Bore Rough Rider, .357 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ee6ba4bc12f632fb7ef583a0a94af6b5a\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDerya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) TM22-A-18, .22 cal. rifle\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022edf6f03220fe17226c3c4915028fa9ecb\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMarlin Firearms Co. 20, .22 cal. rifle\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6f9376de586e6519e2c8d85d174b815c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHigh Standard Sentinel, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022efd44e1ebc2292b33b0a81c51e970cb9f\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENorth American Arms NAA22, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ea05e129b8026369bbb6cc3a02f44f5fd\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESmith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson 18, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e5dcd766debb50589eaf433c2e26083f4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDerya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) VRPA40, 12-gauge shotgun\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e5a49790129f7ad2b643366feebe51180\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHeritage Mfg. Inc. Rough Rider, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInvestigators also found various types of ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECowan had been convicted previously of aggravated kidnapping, burglary, and possession of dangerous drugs in Montana and so was required to register as a violent offender for life. Cowan, who became belligerent with agents as he was arrested, acknowledged he was \\\\u201ctechnically a felon,\\\\u201d but said he owned guns because his conviction was fraudulently obtained by county officials.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF and Ravalli County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:25:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788888339\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:21:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788888108\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-237\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Following trial, Hamilton man sentenced to 2 years for unlawfully possessing firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/following-trial-hamilton-man-sentenced-2-years-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8b86debe-5a82-452c-9334-a6a8c873f2ab\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHOUSTON \\\\u2013 A 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EErik Guadalupe Ibarra Venegas pleaded guilty June 5.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Venegas to serve 16 months in federal prison and a $100 special assessment. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOct. 28, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a suspicious man pushing two bicycles and carrying tools in a cul-de-sac. Authorities found Venegas walking in the middle of the road obstructing traffic.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the police encounter, the defendant was asked if he had any firearms. Venegas showed the officer a 5.56 caliber pistol that was on his person.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVenegas had no identification and provided a fake name, but fingerprint analysis later confirmed his identity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed Venegas had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States. As a result, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHe has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHedwig Village Police Department, ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith and AUSA Byron Black prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:22:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895324\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:19:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895198\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal alien sentenced for firearm possession after visa overstay in Houston\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-firearm-possession-after-visa-overstay-houston\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"70eff3ba-3335-42db-ba16-adf595826e91\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Kansas City, Mo. man was charged after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominic M. Miller, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint on Sept. 5, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe federal criminal complaint charges Miller with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of machine guns on July 24, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were conducting general patrol in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Propsect Avenue, when they noticed a vehicle driving with an improper license plate. Officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, Miller, and two other passengers. A computer check revealed Miller had an active warrant out of Kansas and he was arrested.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located two Glock handguns under the passenger floorboard. Both firearms were equipped with a machine gun conversion device, more commonly known as a \\\\u201cswitch.\\\\u201d These devices convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic firearms, more commonly known as machine guns. Laboratory testing confirmed that both firearms functioned as fully automatic machine guns. On Sept. 3, 2026, the Kansas City, Misouri Police Department crime lab located genetic information (\\\\u201cDNA\\\\u201d) consistent with Miller\\\\u2019s DNA on one of the firearms. Prior to this incident, Miller was convicted of the felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Jackson County, Mo., Case Number 2416-CR000871-01.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:16:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902190\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:14:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902078\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominic M. Miller, 21, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a two-count criminal complaint after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kansas City Man Arrested for Illegal Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/kansas-city-man-arrested-illegal-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdef3c6f-da06-421c-ae0a-839a53a36736\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066753\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:45:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789065945\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/broken-bow-resident-pleads-guilty-three-counts-child-abuse-indian-country\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a706c0a4-0464-4fde-8a26-5c5e70aabcab\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis indictment sends a clear message: we will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or compromise the security of our nation\\\\u0027s protected facilities,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cThe Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute anyone who attempts to bypass federal gun laws and violate secure spaces.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe FBI will not tolerate acts that jeopardize public safety or the security of our nation\\\\u0027s protected institutions,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. \\\\u201cWe will continue working diligently with our law enforcement partners to investigate any individual who attempts to breach secure areas or circumvent federal firearms restrictions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to allegations contained in the indictment, in February 2026, Demandre Michael Frazier and Jessica Marie Zamora made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of two pistols, one a 9x19mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson and the other a .40 caliber Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson. Later, in April 2026, Jessica Zamora and a yet-to-be publicly unidentified defendant made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of a 10mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson pistol.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460496\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/photo_in_u.s._v._treyvon_jameel_currie_et_al_226-cr-00182-apg-ejy.png?itok=-u6AqV_L\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022361\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022301\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Photo of a Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EPhoto of a Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged, on August 5, 2026, Treyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora, carrying a concealed weapon, entered and attempted to enter the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility. There are notices stating the pertinent prohibitions and penalties posted at all entrances of the facility.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETreyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora are each charged with one count of entry or attempted entry by fraud and false pretenses on real property of the United States with intent to commit a felony in that facility; one count of possession of a firearm in a secure federal facility; one count of unauthorized entry upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy Enclosed by a structural barrier; and one count of unauthorized introduction of a dangerous weapon upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy enclosed by a structural barrier. Zamora is also charged with two counts of illegal acquisition of a firearm. Demandre Michael Frazier is charged with one count of illegal acquisition of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA jury trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and North Las Vegas Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T19:03:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788908617\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T18:58:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788908311\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460496\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5ed1d370-fcd7-40bd-95c0-e43d7c87d240\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Photo of a Smith \\\\u0026 Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Three Individuals Indicted for Illegal Acquisition of Firearms and Unauthorized Entry Into a Secure Federal Facility With a Firearm in North Las Vegas\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/three-individuals-indicted-illegal-acquisition-firearms-and-unauthorized-entry-secure\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"214feb88-9269-4903-84e3-2b61382583d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EINDIANAPOLIS- Andrew Wade Case, 39, of Columbus, Indiana, has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, as well as distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. Upon release from federal prison, Case must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on December 19, 2024, Andrew Case forced Minor Victim 1\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 a child under the age of 12 and in his custody and care\\\\u2014 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a four-minute video.\\\\u0026nbsp;In addition to exploiting the child in his care, Case also distributed other child sexual abuse material to individuals over a peer\\\\u2011to\\\\u2011peer network.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Bloomington Police Department received alerts related to the videos Case shared. When investigators executed a search warrant at Case\\\\u2019s home, they found Minor Victim 1 living in severely neglected conditions, including sleeping on the floor amid insects and showing signs of untreated lice.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA forensic examination of Case\\\\u2019s cell phone revealed more than 600 images and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including content involving sadomasochistic abuse and other depictions of violence or exploitation of infants and toddlers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u201cA child\\\\u2019s home should be a sanctuary of safety, trust, and protection where they are shielded from the dangers of the world. Instead, this safe space was violated by the defendant. It is paramount\\\\u0026nbsp;we safeguard children from every threat, especially when those threats come from within their own home,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003Esaid Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E \\\\u201cWhile this child has endured irreversible trauma, we hope today\\\\u2019s sentence helps restore her trust in the justice system and offers a measure of peace as she moves forward.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Secret Service is committed to leveraging the full weight of its cyber and forensic resources to support investigations into crimes against children,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003Esaid Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office.\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E \\\\u201cThis case is a sobering reminder of the threat a child can face inside of their own home. Our investigators are committed to using every tool available to hold those who victimize children in their care accountable. We thank the Indiana State Police and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their steadfast partnership throughout this investigation, and we\\\\u2019ll continue to work together to ensure anyone preying on a child in our community is brought to justice.\\\\u201d \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force maintains zero tolerance for adults who abuse positions of trust to sexually exploit, harm, or abuse children,\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003Esaid Indiana State Police Lieutenant Christopher Cecil, the commander of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E \\\\u0022 We are committed to locating, investigating, and arresting offenders who prey on children. No child deserves to live in fear.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Secret Service and the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/project-safe-childhood\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state,\\\\u0026nbsp;and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/project-safe-childhood\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/project-safe-childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a\\\\u0026nbsp;multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children.\\\\u0026nbsp;Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp;Visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Einternetcrimesagainstkids.com\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;to learn more about their efforts.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:09:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788887342\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:07:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788887260\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\" Columbus Man Receives 27-Year Federal Sentence for Sexually Exploiting Child in His Care\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/columbus-man-receives-27-year-federal-sentence-sexually-exploiting-child-his-care\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8dca788e-7b5c-4638-b38e-2f4d6ab60622\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESHERMAN, Texas \\\\u2013A Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERaymundo Duran Baza, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on September 4, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, from September 2024 through October 2024, Baza and at least one other person conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, while not being a licensed firearms dealer.\\\\u0026nbsp; During this time, Baza was responsible for buying and re-selling firearms and Machine Gun Conversion Devices for profit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E##\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:13:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788876795\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:09:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788876581\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Fannin County man sentenced to federal prison for buying and selling firearms without a license\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/fannin-county-man-sentenced-federal-prison-buying-and-selling-firearms-without-license\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"509eeeee-58cb-47d5-b7e5-6558c6f07d94\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERUTLAND \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alec Diaz, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cBenn Tenn,\\\\u201d 22, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 144 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between January 2023 and September 2025, Diaz was a manager and supervisor of a drug trafficking organization operating around Bennington, Vermont. Diaz and his associates imported kilograms of cocaine into Vermont on multiple occasions. Once the cocaine was in Vermont, 90% of it was cooked into cocaine base. Diaz and his associates also regularly imported fentanyl. Numerous individuals, including a juvenile, distributed drugs on behalf of Diaz, at times selling over 1,000 bags of fentanyl a day. On September 24, 2025, law enforcement arrested Diaz in Pownal, Vermont. In the camper where Diaz was found, agents seized a .45 caliber handgun, approximately 26 grams of cocaine, approximately 32 grams of cocaine base, and $15,000 cash.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition to drug trafficking, Diaz was involved in firearms trafficking. Diaz obtained both handguns and AR-style rifles from a Bennington-area resident, and later transferred them to another drug trafficker. Diaz also used firearms during his drug trafficking activities, displaying them to intimidate others and protect his drug trafficking operation. On at least one occasion, Diaz obtained a firearm in exchange for drugs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Bennington County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department, the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Bennington Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield (MA) Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Cambridge (NY) Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Ophardt added: \\\\u201cFor two and a half years, Diaz pushed kilograms of poisonous drugs into Vermont for profit while facilitating the movement of firearms to other drug traffickers. Diaz\\\\u2019 lengthy prison sentence should serve as a warning to others who would do the same.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Diaz was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Samuel Ansell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:40:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788900004\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:36:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899803\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Drug Trafficker from Springfield, Massachusetts Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine in Bennington, Vermont\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-drug-trafficker-springfield-massachusetts-sentenced-144-months-conspiring\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"05cc83ee-0879-45f5-8225-a37e797e25fe\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TAYLOR DZICZEK, 44, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a bank robbery spree in 2021 and 2022.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between September 2021 and August 2022, Dziczek committed the following 14 robberies and one attempted robbery of banks and credit unions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eae36fa98158f3e6160345464aa52ecb6\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeptember 9, 2021 \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Arrha Credit Union, West Springfield, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ecf77a0c889f86730db1cec3669877f29\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeptember 20, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; American Eagle Credit Union, Enfield, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb38704238634a823d836e9b1a6653a0c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 4, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; People\\\\u2019s United Bank, Brattleboro, Vt.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e99c5116be62884fbada4e987d0853a30\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 15, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Webster Bank, East Windsor, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e596bd3d85e6c00ac93dfbac8687cea4e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 21, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; People\\\\u2019s United Bank, Brattleboro, Vt. (attempt)\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6097c50d7f8450fee5f262fbeff9b97b\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 22, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Webster Bank, Somers, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e688ea708cca784d62fc58d235d7499d8\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENovember 5, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Workers Credit Union, Athol, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e29ca0b530461bf3e3c178549056c99f4\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENovember 19, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Liberty Bank, Avon, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3ab6ae7c17f1cb75a4297ccbfee29769\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENovember 20, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Savings Bank of Walpole, Keene, N.H.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e05279e9ac0eb07bcb57fa7fbefe60c2d\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDecember 16, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Montague, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6a2f14c9f0e8c1234c77427a7593b2f0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 6, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;KeyBank, East Windsor, Conn\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec1d16f89036035d058c93c218280bac1\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 21, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;Franklin First Credit Union, Greenfield, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e11dc3d63d6865fa10e7d00db8e491e80\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMay 26, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;People\\\\u2019s United Bank, Plainville, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e624cbd1b0deb622269df201fdbeda072\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJune 3, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;TD Bank, Nashua, N.H.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e4fd091f7102b8924dc95d05a9c135616\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAugust 17, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Liberty Bank, Meriden, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring each robbery, Dziczek typically turned off his cellphone and drove his car with the license plates removed to the bank or credit union.\\\\u0026nbsp; He then entered the bank or credit union wearing a hooded sweatshirt, surgical mask, and baseball cap, and handed the teller a note demanding cash in large denominations and claiming to have a gun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation, Dziczek was identified as a suspect who robbed the Peoples United Bank, located at 117 East Street in Plainville, Connecticut, on May 26, 2022.\\\\u0026nbsp; On that date, Dziczek entered the bank, approached the teller counter and gave the teller a note stating words to the effect of, \\\\u201cI have a gun. Don\\\\u2018t call 911. Don\\\\u2018t set off any alarms.\\\\u201c\\\\u0026nbsp; When the teller stated she did not have any more money, Dziczek pulled what appeared to be a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt and made additional statements including \\\\u201cGive me all the money,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cI have a gun,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cDon\\\\u2018t be a hero.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDziczek removed some of the paper money wrappers from the money he received from the teller and discarded them at the bank before he fled the scene.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Plainville Police detectives collected the discarded money wrappers as evidence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn October 21, 2022, FBI special agents surveilled Dziczek while he was in the MGM Casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, and retrieved an energy drink can with a black straw from which Dziczek was observed drinking.\\\\u0026nbsp; Laboratory analysis connected DNA found on the straw to DNA found on discarded money wrappers from the Plainville bank robbery.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDziczek has been detained since his arrest on December 1, 2022.\\\\u0026nbsp; On September 26, 2025, he pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Nagala ordered Dziczek to pay restitution in the total amount of $82,567.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was conducted by the FBI New Haven Division\\\\u2019s Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Boston Division, FBI Albany Division, Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Athol (Mass.) Police Department, Avon (Conn.) Police Department, Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Department, Chicopee (Mass.) Police Department, East Windsor (Conn.) Police Department, Enfield (Conn.) Police Department, Greenfield (Mass.) Police Department, Keene (N.H.) Police Department, Meriden (Conn.) Police Department, Montague (Mass.) Police Department, Nashua (N.H.) Police Department, Plainville (Conn.) Police Department, Somers (Conn.) Police Department, and Springfield (Mass.) Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services provided valuable assistance to the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings, and Stephanie T. Levick.\\\\u0026nbsp; U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont and for their close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:42:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903765\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:33:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903227\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETAYLOR DZICZEK, 44, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a bank robbery spree in 2021 and 2022.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for New England Bank Robbery Spree\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/massachusetts-man-sentenced-more-7-years-federal-prison-new-england-bank-robbery-spree\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c39e7a08-385e-4bac-b5ab-229194f6efc3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460481\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1c16092-8c72-4b08-b86b-2389ad59f586\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECAMDEN, N.J. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A Camden County man admitted to failing to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes for the employees of his business, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer\\\\u0026nbsp;and Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyrone Pitts, 60, of Lawnside, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Ren\\\\u00e9e Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of failing to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS payroll taxes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom 2020 through 2023, Pitts was the owner, operator, and president of a construction company called Arline Electrical Construction Services LLC (\\\\u201cAECS\\\\u201d).\\\\u0026nbsp; Pitts had the authority to exercise significant control over AECS\\\\u2019s financial affairs and was a \\\\u201cresponsible person\\\\u201d of AECS, meaning that he was required to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS the payroll taxes withheld from the wages of AECS\\\\u2019s employees. However, during that same time period, Pitts almost entirely failed to file Form 941 employment tax returns and failed to pay over to the IRS approximately $810,403 in employment taxes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe tax fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General\\\\u0026nbsp;Colin M. McDonald credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to today\\\\u2019s guilty plea.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d).\\\\u0026nbsp; The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance t\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n-1460451\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n                                      \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n            \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/media\\\\/1460451\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=337272\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022brown_kelly_complaint.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ebrown_kelly_complaint.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n                    \\\\n  \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Kelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis, was arrested Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, on a criminal complaint for using her employer\\\\u2019s company credit card to make more than $4 million of unauthorized, personal purchases, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between November 2020 and October 2024, Brown worked as a bookkeeper at a leading Fresno business specializing in custom countertops and commercial hardwood products. In her role, she had access to the personally identifiable information of employees, including the business\\\\u2019s owner.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 2021, Brown recommended that the owner obtain an American Express credit card for business expenses. The owner, however, was not interested in obtaining an American Express credit card for himself or for his business. Nevertheless, two weeks later Brown gave the owner two American Express credit cards, one under the owner\\\\u2019s personal name and the other under the business name.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA few months later and unbeknownst to the owner, Brown obtained a credit card in her own name under the owner\\\\u2019s American Express account without his authorization. Brown began using this credit card for unauthorized personal expenses, including luxury retail purchases, travel, health and beauty treatments, and a down payment on a 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2022, Brown started an online apparel store, Western Edge Boutique. Around the same time, she made numerous clothing and apparel-related purchases on the unauthorized card.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrown used the business\\\\u2019s bank account to make payments to American Express from 2021 through 2024 to conceal and further her fraud scheme. In late 2024, the owner discovered the scheme and fired Brown. Brown spent more than $4 million dollars on unauthorized purchases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arelis M. Clemente is prosecuting this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:23:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788888182\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:37:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788885478\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis, was arrested on a criminal complaint for using her employer\\\\u2019s company credit card to make more than $4 million of unauthorized, personal purchases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Clovis woman arrested for multimillion dollar fraud scheme \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/clovis-woman-arrested-multimillion-dollar-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2afbbfc4-8fcb-4115-8594-3d38c695c399\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson\\\\u2019s shell corporation or other vendors.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:33:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:31:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899508\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-foundation-it-manager-sentenced-prison-embezzling-nearly-1-million-employer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"736edf4b-594e-4ff4-86d6-a8ef6fee1b4d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp; United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Holbert to 109 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the felon in possession charge and 46 months for violating his supervised release of a prior federal conviction, for a total of 155 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Holbert is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn October 4, 2025, at 0134 hours, an Omaha Police officer was patrolling The Old Market when he was alerted to a \\\\u201cperson with a gun\\\\u201d located \\\\u201cup the street\\\\u201d.\\\\u0026nbsp; The officer exited his cruiser at which time he heard a single gunshot. A short time later, officers located Victim 1 who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hip. A description of the shooter was provided along with his path of travel. Officers located an individual matching the suspect\\\\u2019s description near 13th and Farnam streets, identifying him as Holbert.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers canvassed the area and located a single spent 9mm casing stamped \\\\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\\\u201d at 12th and Howard streets. Officers canvassed the path of Holbert\\\\u2019s travel and located a discarded firearm directly in front of 1210 Howard Street. The firearm was located underneath a black Chevrolet SUV and identified as a Glock 43x 9mm handgun. The firearm was equipped with an extended high-capacity magazine that contained several rounds of \\\\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\\\u201d live ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers reviewed video surveillance footage and noted Holbert appeared at approximately 0136 hours walking north on South 13th Street. During this time, Holbert appeared to observe a marked police cruiser at which time he began running north out of the camera view toward the Gene Leahy Mall. At 0150 hours, Holbert can be seen returning to the north facing entrance of an area hotel. Holbert remained in this area until he was taken into custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers obtained additional video surveillance from area businesses.\\\\u0026nbsp; The videos show Victim 1 and Holbert engaged in a verbal altercation on the corner of 13th and Howard streets. Holbert can be seen clutching his waistband repeatedly, as if concealing an item hidden underneath his clothing. Holbert and the victim then walk out of camera view to the southwest before a single gunshot is heard on the video. Holbert is then seen running east on Howard Street out of the camera view. The path of travel for Holbert was also noted to be the path where the firearm was located by officers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe spent 9mm casing stamped \\\\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\\\u201d recovered on scene was determined to have been fired from the recovered Glock Model 43X 9mm firearm. Two fingerprints were recovered from the firearm\\\\u2019s internal magazine. A senior forensic technician with the Omaha Police Forensic Investigations Unit identified the fingerprints as belonging to Holbert.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHolbert has multiple prior felony convictions for Carrying a Concealed Weapon -2\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003End\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E offense, possession of a firearm by felon, both in the District Court for Douglas County, Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHolbert was arrested in 2017 as part of Operation Brass Catcher, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives-led operation targeting Crips gang members.\\\\u0026nbsp; Holbert was indicted on 10 counts, including four counts of distributing crack cocaine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Holbert pleaded guilty to several counts and was sentenced to 240 months\\\\u2019 custody in the Bureau of Prisons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 21, 2025, Holbert, along with several thousand inmates, was granted Executive Clemency by the Biden administration and released after serving just 100 months of his original 240-month sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:26:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902770\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nebraska\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:24:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902657\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKhyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Omaha Man Granted Presidential Clemency Convicted Again:  Felon in Possession of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ne\\\\/pr\\\\/omaha-man-granted-presidential-clemency-convicted-again-felon-possession-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f5a00bd7-d2cb-438c-9752-716585fa3825\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJacksonville, Florida \\\\u2013 Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, law enforcement officers received a cybertip that a social media user from Jacksonville had uploaded files of CSAM. After reviewing the information in the cybertip, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the social media account and learned that it belonged to Whitaker. After reviewing Whitaker\\\\u2019s Facebook account, further evidence led to a search warrant of Whitaker\\\\u2019s home where his cellphone was seized and searched. Whitaker\\\\u2019s phone contained more than 100 images and videos depicting CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time of this offense, Whitaker was on probation following a Florida state prison sentence for possession of child pornography. In addition, since Whitaker has been classified as a sexually violent predator, once he serves his prison sentence, under Florida law, he will be committed to a security facility for control, care, and treatment.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp;It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIt is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:55:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788886546\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:55:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788886500\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJacksonville, Florida \\\\u2013 Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/jacksonville-sex-predator-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possession-child-sexual\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"55c683dc-c9fb-49f3-8ecc-97320e43aace\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Dortch on August 17, 2026, and Orduna on August 31, 2026, to 204 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment: 120 months for bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. McKnight was sentenced on August 31, 2026, to 60 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. McKnight\\\\u2019s sentence will be served consecutive to concurrent 96-month sentences imposed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska and U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system. After Dortch and Orduna are released from prison, they will begin five-year terms of supervised release. McKnight will serve a three-year term of supervised release concurrent to the other terms of supervised release ordered in his prior cases. All were ordered to pay restitution to Community State Bank in the amount of $71,097.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween October 3 and November 7, 2023, McKnight and Dortch had a group chat where they agreed to \\\\u201cget money\\\\u201d and began plotting. At that time, McKnight was incarcerated at FCI Pollock because of a prior federal bank robbery conviction.\\\\u0026nbsp; McKnight utilized a smuggled phone to initiate the group chat.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 14, 2025, Orduna and Dortch were captured on video surveillance arriving at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, and ultimately drove to the Community State Bank, where they were captured on video surveillance entering the bank wearing disguises to include realistic human face masks with handguns drawn.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThey pointed handguns at the bank employees and demanded money.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dortch grabbed an employee, led her to the vault at gunpoint, and demanded she place the money in a bag.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dortch and Orduna directed bank employees to spread bills to ensure there were no dye packs. Orduna took the money from the teller drawers, then Dortch and Orduna zip-tied the bank employees, instructed them to lie on the floor of the vault, and then closed the vault with the employees inside.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDortch and Orduna left the bank with $71,097.00, including bait bills.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning on January 25, 2025, McKnight, while still in prison, searched eBay for realistic, silicone human face masks and saved maps to various banks in Nebraska and Iowa with a smuggled phone and subsequently used the phone to email Dortch about banks that presented good robbery prospects. He advised Dortch about multiple banks in rural towns outside of Omaha, estimated their cash on hand, the amount of law enforcement presence in those towns, expected law enforcement response times to those banks, and he provided maps to the banks.\\\\u0026nbsp; McKnight specifically identified a bank in Modale, Iowa.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 7, 2025, GPS tracking information taken in combination with records from Dortch and Orduna\\\\u2019s phone providers showed that Orduna and Dortch met up and travelled approximately 35 minutes together to Modale, Iowa, where they drove by the Community Bank to \\\\u201ccase\\\\u201d it.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 12, 2025, law enforcement foiled their apparent plans and arrested Dortch and Orduna at their respective residences and executed search warrants. At Orduna\\\\u2019s residence, law enforcement recovered $5,520 and a firearm. At Dortch\\\\u2019s residence, law enforcement recovered $11,210 including the Community State Bank bait bills, two firearms, the masks worn by Dortch and Orduna, and clothing worn during the robbery.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese sentences demonstrate that violence does not pay,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. \\\\u201cIf you take a gun into a business and assault innocent employees who are simply doing their job, the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office will hold you maximumly accountable in federal court for those choices.\\\\u0026nbsp; The deputies and police officers that recovered the stolen money and the firearm performed a great public service in this case, and I thank them for it.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Police Department, and Saunders County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:28:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902887\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nebraska\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:26:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902784\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Omaha Men and Federal Inmate Sentenced for Cedar Bluffs Armed Bank Robbery\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ne\\\\/pr\\\\/omaha-men-and-federal-inmate-sentenced-cedar-bluffs-armed-bank-robbery\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6887a28f-d404-47f2-9a56-c819ae9471a4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, a Russian national and web developer who was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, appeared in federal court last week on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his alleged role in a transnational conspiracy responsible for large\\\\u2011scale bank account takeovers.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis investigation and indictment underscore our commitment to disrupting large-scale cyber theft,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cWith assistance from our international partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize technology for personal gain and hold them fully accountable in an American courtroom.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFilimonov allegedly used spoofed domains and fraudulent login pages to target unsuspecting online banking customers, stealing millions from victims,\\\\u201d said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. \\\\u201cThis announcement is a powerful demonstration of the value of our partnerships on cybercrime, without which these extraditions and arrests would not be possible.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from November 2023 through October 2025, Filimonov and his co\\\\u2011conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search\\\\u2011engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspirators used the stolen credentials to access bank accounts, review account balances, and initiate unauthorized wire transfers to steal bank account funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment also alleges that Filimonov developed and maintained online infrastructure supporting the operation, including interactive databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture and transmit sensitive authentication data. Filimonov and his co-conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain millions of dollars from victim accounts, including accounts held by companies located in the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the charged scheme, the Department of Justice\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-announces-seizure-stolen-password-database-used-bank-account-takeover\\\\u0022\\\\u003Epreviously seized the domain\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E web3adspanels.org, which operated as a backend server storing stolen credentials harvested from fraudulent banking websites. The seized server contained thousands of compromised credentials, including those belonging to victims located in the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESince January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant and to follow\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.fbi.gov\\\\/investigate\\\\/cyber\\\\/alerts\\\\/2025\\\\/account-takeover-fraud-via-impersonation-of-financial-institution-support\\\\u0022\\\\u003Esteps recommended by the FBI\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, including regularly monitoring financial accounts, using \\\\u201cBookmarks\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cFavorites\\\\u201d for navigating to login websites, and guarding against phishing attempts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 4, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, of Russia, w\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.324800216
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_015Wia2ZQwTB2wm4KLXita91

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases, page 6 of 50-item pages", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0075

(no result)

Tool Result E0076

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":6},\"executionTime\":2.5201067924499512},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson\\u2019s shell corporation or other vendors.\\u003Cbr\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney\\u2019s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:33:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788899588\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:31:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788899508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/former-foundation-it-manager-sentenced-prison-embezzling-nearly-1-million-employer\",\"uuid\":\"736edf4b-594e-4ff4-86d6-a8ef6fee1b4d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively.\\u0026nbsp; BARKER faces charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen money for his role in a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, resulting in losses of over $1.7 million to more than 20 victims.\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in January 2026 to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with this scheme.\\u0026nbsp; Following sentencing, GIBBS fled to Jamaica and now faces additional charges for bail jumping.\\u0026nbsp; BAKER and GIBBS arrived in the United States on August 27, 2026, and were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\u0026nbsp; Both cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s extradition makes clear that fraudsters who exploit vulnerable victims will be held accountable and that those who would seek to escape the consequences of their crimes will be relentlessly pursued until they are brought to justice,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAttempting to escape a federal sentence or hide from charges across the ocean is a losing strategy,\\u201d said U.S. Marshal Ricky J. Patel.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cRicki Rickaline Gibbs jumped bail and fled to Jamaica, but the USMS in the Southern District of New York and the USMS Jamaica Foreign Field Office, working hand-in-hand with local Jamaican law enforcement, tracked both Gibbs and Swayne Barker down.\\u0026nbsp; Our message is clear: if you prey on vulnerable individuals there will be nowhere safe for you to hide.\\u0026nbsp; We will find you and bring you back to answer for your crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Indictment through which BARKER is charged and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least in or about 2019 through at least in or about 2023, BARKER and GIBBS defrauded more than 20 victims of over $1.7 million by\\u0026nbsp;representing to victims that they had won prizes in a sweepstakes and needed to transfer money to pay taxes and fees to claim their purported prizes.\\u0026nbsp;In truth, the victims had not won any sweepstakes prizes, and\\u0026nbsp;BARKER, GIBBS,\\u0026nbsp;and others misappropriated these victims\\u2019 funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVictims of this scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name\\u2014e.g., \\u201cRobert James,\\u201d \\u201cRobert Hill,\\u201d or \\u201cMark Miller\\u201d\\u2014claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.\\u0026nbsp; The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.\\u0026nbsp; In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.\\u0026nbsp; After luring victims in with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of this scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.\\u0026nbsp; Gibbs is a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, who participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica, including BARKER, who is a citizen of Jamaica.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Indictment charging GIBBS with failure to surrender for service of sentence and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGIBBS was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth M. Karas on January 7, 2026, and ordered to surrender on February 9, 2026, to the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, or to a designated facility.\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS failed to surrender to the United States Marshal on that date and instead fled to Jamaica, where she was arrested in April 2026 pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest warrant.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBARKER is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, as well conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS is charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; In addition to this new charge, GIBBS has been extradited to serve her pending sentence of 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS has also been ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Division.\\u0026nbsp; Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing BARKER and GIBBS\\u2019s arrest and extradition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges against BARKER in the Superseding Indictment and against GIBBS in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e8d8aee892966debd374ca87a58502999\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment\\u0026nbsp;against BARKER and the description of the\\u0026nbsp;Superseding Indictment against BARKER set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:32:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788895929\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T10:59:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788879550\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-251\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Husband And Wife Fraudsters Extradited From Jamaica After Wife\\u2019s Failed Attempt To Flee Justice\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/husband-and-wife-fraudsters-extradited-jamaica-after-wifes-failed-attempt-flee-justice\",\"uuid\":\"d53fb822-470f-496d-8d6f-328a123d5be9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentence\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharge(s)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ELovechild McGuire, 33\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E28 years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EChristopher Flax, 50\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E13 years\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EAmiee Ranes, 46\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ETrent Marion. 39\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EUnique Carter, 28\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ESeven years\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ECamri Outlaw, 31\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ETime served, two years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid\\u2011level distributors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization\\u2019s main stash site.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMethamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. \\u201cDrug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case.\\u0026nbsp;The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:25:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788881152\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:16:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788880605\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/evansville-drug-trafficking-organization-dismantled-six-head-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0d411645-5679-408c-bb45-88f694417c48\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066753\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:45:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065945\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013 \\u003C\\/strong\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/broken-bow-resident-pleads-guilty-three-counts-child-abuse-indian-country\",\"uuid\":\"a706c0a4-0464-4fde-8a26-5c5e70aabcab\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECINCINNATI \\u2013 A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on Aug. 5, Swan intentionally assaulted a United States Postal Service mail carrier while the victim was engaged in his official duties. Swan allegedly struck the mail carrier several times and threw him to the ground, inflicting bodily injury.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESwan was indicted on Sept. 2 and brought into custody today.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssaulting a federal employee carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge,\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:02:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788883343\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:00:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788883221\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECINCINNATI \\u2013 A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man for assaulting postal worker\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdoh\\/pr\\/grand-jury-indicts-cincinnati-man-assaulting-postal-worker\",\"uuid\":\"850de09e-e7f4-4f7c-8314-392f12a3523c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJOHN PAUL GAGE JR\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E., (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGAGE JR.\\u201d\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E) age 43, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after he previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a7841(a)(1), \\u00a7841(b)(1)(A), \\u00a7841(b)(1)(C), and\\u0026nbsp;\\u00a7846, as well illegal use of communications facility, in violation of\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a7843(b) and Title 18,\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a72.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least June 5, 2024,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGAGE JR.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E conspired with several individuals to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine throughout the Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy involved obtaining narcotics from Houston, Texas and transporting the narcotics to Thibodaux, Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications, and the use of multiple vehicles. On numerous occasions,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGAGE JR.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eused his cell phone to further this conspiracy and distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to numerous customers in Thibodaux, Louisiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGAGE JR.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eultimately trafficked at least thirty kilograms of cocaine from Houston into the Eastern District of Louisiana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant U. S. Attorney Simpson, praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff\\u2019s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Violent Crimes Unit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:52:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788886370\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:39:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788885592\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJOHN PAUL GAGE JR\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E., (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGAGE JR.\\u201d\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E) age 43, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after he previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a7841(a)(1), \\u00a7841(b)(1)(A), \\u00a7841(b)(1)(C), and\\u0026nbsp;\\u00a7846, as well illegal use of communications facility, in violation of\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a7843(b) and Title 18,\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a72.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/lafourche-parish-resident-sentenced-cocaine-distribution-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"46380ca0-59d3-47f4-b37b-d07a579fb612\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 A Moberly, Missouri man was sentenced to 27 months in prison Tuesday and ordered to repay the $284,000 that he fraudulently obtained via a pandemic rental assistance scam.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESteven W. Hendren, 34, submitted numerous fraudulent applications for State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission from March 2021 through June 2024. Hendren falsely listed himself as a landlord in the loan applications and included fake lease agreements and financial statements. He also submitted other applications in which he fraudulently inflated rent amounts and altered lease agreements and financial statements.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe SAFHR program was designed to provide emergency assistance for rent, utility bills and other expenses during the pandemic. Hendren received $284,840, much of which he used for personal expenses including the purchase of a 2020 GMC Yukon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHendren pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u0027Fraud Division\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:40:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788903613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T17:36:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788903370\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESteven W. Hendren submitted numerous fraudulent applications for State Assistance for Housing Relief rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Missouri Man Sentenced for $284,000 Pandemic Rental Assistance Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"b7ce2474-26e0-427a-94c4-95dee8df26cb\",\"name\":\"Disaster Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/missouri-man-sentenced-284000-pandemic-rental-assistance-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"7f4a0bdf-b213-4b19-bb4a-eddb8b755bcc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBURLINGTON \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow\\u2019s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: \\u201cI am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:47:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788896876\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T15:11:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788894663\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/senegalese-man-sentenced-17-months-unlawfully-reentering-united-states-after-prior\",\"uuid\":\"e29a4662-0088-441c-b12c-b5ea6baca3d5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda, a 45-year-old male from Can\\u00f3vanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn August 20, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda on six charges of production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child exploitation material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, from in or about November 2025, to July 2026, defendant Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda possessed and knowingly accessed with intent to view child pornography. Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda, using his cellular telephone and other electronic devices, which had internet capabilities, possessed images and videos of child pornography including images of toddlers, prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom or about January 9, 2026, to on or about January 12, 2026, Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda knowingly induced, enticed, and coerced a minor, or attempted to do so, that is a 3-year-old male minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The defendant is also charged with two more counts of production of child pornography in February and April 2026, for enticing and coercing a prepubescent male minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda is also facing one count of receipt and one count of transportation of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThose who prey on children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico. \\u201cI thank the dedicated HSI agents and prosecutors who investigated and charged this case for their tireless efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBehind every child exploitation case is a child who has been harmed, and this arrest is another urgent reminder that predators do not fit one profile, and victims do not fit one gender,\\u201d said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. \\u201cHSI San Juan has seen a troubling pattern of adult males seeking to exploit male minors, and we will continue to call attention to that reality without minimizing the risk to any child. Our message is clear: child exploitation is not limited by stereotypes, and neither is our enforcement response. HSI San Juan will follow the evidence, identify victims, and pursue those accused of targeting children with the full weight of our investigative authorities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Daynelle \\u00c1lvarez-Lora from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) production of child pornography \\u2013 minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison; (2) receipt of child exploitation material \\u2013 five to 20 years in prison; (2) transportation of child exploitation material \\u2013 five to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography \\u2013 a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about HSI\\u2019s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/k2p\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EKnow2Protect.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov\\u0022\\u003EIntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\/psc.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:10:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788883840\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Puerto Rico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T11:57:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788883068\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2026-095\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-Garc\\u00eda, a 45-year-old male from Can\\u00f3vanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"45-Year-Old Can\\u00f3vanas Man Arrested for Child Exploitation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/45-year-old-canovanas-man-arrested-child-exploitation\",\"uuid\":\"af92f18d-bb8c-4e69-aeb8-11474266f232\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Scott Testa, 60, of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with two counts of cyberstalking, arising from online conduct targeting a local government official, a police officer, and their families.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant appeared in federal court this afternoon for a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott W. Reid, at which Testa was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that, on multiple dates in April of this year, the defendant, with the intent to harass and intimidate two victims affiliated with Whitpain Township, used the internet and\\/or electronic mail to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecifically, as alleged, in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image depicting one victim wearing a white Ku Klux Klan robe with the name of his current employer in the background, and included false information about the victim, which defendant Testa knew to be false when it was posted. Then, as further alleged, Testa posted the names of this victim\\u2019s children and an address of a home which he believed to be the victim\\u2019s true home address.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition, the indictment alleges that, also in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image of a second victim and his family, including his minor children, with their faces exposed so that they could be identified, depicting them all wearing white Ku Klux Klan robes. Each time, along with the photograph, the defendant identified the victim and his family. Testa also posted messages directed at the victim, like \\u201cwe are watching you,\\u201d \\u201cwe are coming,\\u201d and \\u201c\\u2026This does not get erased; it\\u2019s forever. Your career and your family\\u2019s future is going to be pockmarked with you cowards. \\u2026 we are going to run you out of town.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia\\u2019s Fort Washington Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:38:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788899909\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T14:05:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788890708\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Montgomery County Man Charged With Cyberstalking in Connection With Messages Targeting Local Official, Police Officer, and Their Families\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\",\"name\":\"Cybercrime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edpa\\/pr\\/montgomery-county-man-charged-cyberstalking-connection-messages-targeting-local\",\"uuid\":\"16f2093f-e506-4fd9-85ee-dd3e9cadad6c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ELOUISIANA \\u2013ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\u0022)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on October 13, 2016.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETOVAR-MERCADO \\u003C\\/strong\\u003Efaces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release,\\u0026nbsp;and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.\\u0026nbsp;He is also eligible for a 10-year enhanced sentencing because of felony convictions in the Western District of Texas for illegal re-entry into the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the\\u0026nbsp;United States Border Patrol\\u0026nbsp;in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:12:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788898376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T16:03:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788897807\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ELOUISIANA \\u2013 \\u0026nbsp;ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\u0022)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Convictions \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/mexican-illegal-alien-indicted-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien-enhanced-penalty-prior\",\"uuid\":\"aff2b2dc-078f-4f69-b630-4c0e02b88089\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn January 25, 2024, FBI Special Agents arrested Torres-Gerena, former boxing coach, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 16-year-old female minor. Evidence and witness testimonies presented during trial revealed that the defendant, who was a trusted father figure for the victim, invited her to lunch and instead transported her to a motel and attempted to rape her.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese cases are particularly sensitive and require expertise, patience, understanding, and compassion for the victim,\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez Carb\\u00f3. \\u201cThis verdict sends a clear message that those who exploit minors or attempt to do so will be held fully accountable and face significant consequences for their crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,\\u201d said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s San Juan Field Office. \\u201cThanks to the courage of the victim and the dedicated work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, justice was served. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who exploit or harm children are brought to account, no exceptions.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, followed by a supervised release term of five years up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, at 9:00 am. The defendant was ordered detained in custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle \\u00c1lvarez\\u2011Lora and Fabiola Rivera-Laboy from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\/psc.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T10:52:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788879122\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Puerto Rico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T10:39:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788878362\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788868800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2026-094\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"60-Year-Old Man from Arecibo Found Guilty of Child Exploitation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-pr\\/pr\\/60-year-old-man-arecibo-found-guilty-child-exploitation\",\"uuid\":\"f918e98a-f5aa-4b3a-a6ef-5d0f8549bacc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFORT WORTH, Texas \\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, launched Operation New Day, a public safety initiative aimed at ridding the Fort Worth community of dangerous criminal offenders in advance of the upcoming holiday season.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormally launched on Aug. 24, this 90-day operation focuses on prosecuting narcotics traffickers, dangerous illegal aliens and other violent offenders. By removing these threats from the community, U.S. Attorney Raybould aims to help ensure a safer and more family\\u2011friendly holiday season.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELess than two weeks since its inception, Operation New Day has resulted in 23 new federal cases being filed by the Fort Worth Division.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThose who break our laws, flood our streets with drugs and commit violent acts in our community should understand that they are not welcome in Fort Worth,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\u201cNorth Texas will not serve as a refuge for individuals who persist in violating federal law, nor will it provide a respite for those who believe they can evade justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESince launching Operation New Day, the Fort Worth Division has seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine\\u003Cstrong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Ealong with distribution quantities of crack cocaine, and powder cocaine. Additional charges have been filed against multiple individuals for offenses including possession of a machine gun, escape from detention, narcotics distribution and illegal reentry into the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFort Worth is the 10th\\u2011largest city in the nation and Operation New Day represents a significant step toward making Fort Worth the safest big city in the nation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-05T10:00:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788616816\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-05T09:58:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788616722\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788609600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, launched Operation New Day, a public safety initiative aimed at ridding the Fort Worth community of dangerous criminal offenders in advance of the upcoming holiday season.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"It\\u2019s a New Day in Fort Worth: Federal operation aims to remove violent offenders from the community\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/its-new-day-fort-worth-federal-operation-aims-remove-violent-offenders-community\",\"uuid\":\"3edc3991-2e4b-40b2-8e76-cb3082305cd5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth\\u2019s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:15:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788556527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:13:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788556396\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-213\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/dillon-man-sentenced-18-months-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"5ef9ed54-dd8a-45f8-9d48-7b8b62b04140\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFive individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,\\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \\u201cIt is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs alleged, these five individuals in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, including two illegal aliens, stole votes from American citizens when they decided to break the law and undermine our elections,\\u201d said FBI Director Kash Patel. \\u201cProtecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI. Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections, and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. \\u201cIllegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic. This office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cGovernment has a responsibility to the people to safeguard elections,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cEven one illegal vote is one too many.\\u0026nbsp;Here in New Jersey, the federal government is taking this responsibility seriously and violations of federal election law will be investigated and prosecuted to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that no citizens\\u2019 votes are diluted.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cProtecting the integrity of federal elections is a fundamental responsibility of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. \\u201cThe charge against this defendant reflects our commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring that every vote cast complies fully with federal requirements. No one is above these obligations, and my office will continue to pursue cases where unlawful voting occurs.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation\\u2019s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,\\u201d said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). \\u201cThe American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMiddle District of Pennsylvania\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Guzman illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Guzman was charged with voting as an alien. Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting and fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKatya Rodriguez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Holtzman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Guzman faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting the cases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDistrict of New Jersey\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County, New Jersey, was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. According to the complaint, Cardoso was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a U.S. citizen, which is required to register to vote and vote in federal elections.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECardoso allegedly cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates who were vying for election for the office of President and Vice President of the United States. At the time she cast her ballot, Cardoso, who entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa, was not a U.S. citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Cardoso faces a maximum\\u0026nbsp;penalty\\u0026nbsp;of one year in prison. She is scheduled to have an initial appearance on Sept. 8.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI, HSI, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren for the District of New Jersey is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EWestern District of Wisconsin\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Beloit, Wisconsin, was charged on Sept. 2, with illegally voting as an alien in the November 2022 election.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to a criminal information, on Nov. 8, 2022, Jurado Garcia, knowing he was not a U.S. citizen, illegally voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the offices of Member of the Senate and Member of the House of Representatives.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Jurado Garcia faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EA complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:35:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788546931\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e99b9547-7d65-42c6-9404-68fab0db9543\",\"name\":\"Office of the Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"},{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"},{\"uuid\":\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\",\"name\":\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:57:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788530244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1020\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFive individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registration in 2022 or 2024 Election\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\",\"name\":\"Voting and Elections\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/five-charged-pennsylvania-new-jersey-and-wisconsin-illegally-voting-fraudulent-registration\",\"uuid\":\"e817d062-8de5-4e4e-8ec0-1b5450c8559f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A federal jury has convicted two defendants of conspiring to retaliate against individuals who provided information to law enforcement during an investigation of a violent Chicago street gang.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMARKEEVES BROOKS knowingly conspired to retaliate against an individual and DONNITA BRYANT knowingly conspired to retaliate against two individuals who cooperated with law enforcement in a federal investigation of the Faceworld street gang.\\u0026nbsp; Bryant\\u2019s son, DIONTAE HARPER, was a member of Faceworld and a subject of the investigation and prosecution.\\u0026nbsp; The two cooperating individuals provided information against Harper in a murder case in which he was charged and were providing additional information in a related investigation into the Faceworld gang.\\u0026nbsp; From January to September 2025, Brooks and Bryant publicly disseminated a video of a law enforcement interview with one of the cooperators and discussed publicizing a sworn grand jury statement by the other cooperator.\\u0026nbsp; Harper had received the video and the grand jury statement during the discovery and sentencing phases of his murder case.\\u0026nbsp;The discovery materials were subject to a protective order and were legally prohibited from being shared with others.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAfter an eight-day trial in U.S.\\u0026nbsp;District Court in Chicago, the jury on Wednesday convicted Brooks, 28, of Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa, and Bryant, 47, of Chicago, of conspiracy\\u0026nbsp;to commit witness retaliation.\\u0026nbsp; Brooks was also convicted of a substantive offense of witness retaliation.\\u0026nbsp; The jury acquitted Bryant of the same substantive offense, and also acquitted a third defendant, MICHAELA\\u0026nbsp;RICHARD, 26, of Chicago, of the sole\\u0026nbsp;conspiracy count against her.\\u0026nbsp; U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin has not yet set sentencing dates for Brooks and Bryant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EHarper, 26, of Chicago, pleaded guilty\\u0026nbsp;prior to trial to a witness retaliation charge.\\u0026nbsp;Harper\\u2019s sentencing has not yet been scheduled.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz, Sushma Raju, John \\u201cL.J.\\u201d Pavletic, and Jessica Ecker.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EIn May 2025, Harper was convicted in the murder case and subsequently\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/federal-judge-sentences-chicago-street-gang-member-34-years-prison-murdering-man-and\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to 34 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; The murder occurred in 2020 in Chicago\\u2019s Auburn Gresham neighborhood.\\u0026nbsp; Harper admitted in a plea agreement that he fatally shot a man so that Harper could maintain and increase his position in Faceworld, whose members engaged in violent crimes and trafficked narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:18:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788549504\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:14:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788549296\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMARKEEVES BROOKS and DONNITA BRYANT conspired\\u0026nbsp;to commit witness retaliation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Jury Convicts Two Defendants of Conspiring To Retaliate Against Individuals Who Cooperated With Law Enforcement in Chicago Gang Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/federal-jury-convicts-two-defendants-conspiring-retaliate-against-individuals-who\",\"uuid\":\"877c739d-e666-41e3-8588-42942c912206\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003E\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECHATTANOOGA, Tenn. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp; On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.\\u0026nbsp; Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 2251(a) and (e).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that\\u0026nbsp;through his Instagram account of \\u201ccandy_cams,\\u201d and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online.\\u0026nbsp; To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender.\\u0026nbsp; By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.\\u0026nbsp; Buckley\\u2019s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney\\u2019s Office made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\u0026nbsp; This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecial Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about PSC, please visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003E.\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\/resources.html\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\/resources.html\\u003C\\/a\\u003E and click the tab \\u0022resources.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T11:20:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788535230\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"3601535d-4e8a-4029-a9aa-12d40fdbfa41\",\"name\":\"USAO - Tennessee, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T06:55:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788519356\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtn\\/pr\\/chattanooga-man-sentenced-25-years-exploitation-minor\",\"uuid\":\"0dfd75c5-cf1a-47fa-9983-12667c90c25d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 A caregiver from Dent County, Missouri on Friday admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELoretta Pyeatt, 52, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of fraud in connection with access devices. She admitted that she worked for the victim from roughly July 2023 to September 2025. At the time she started, the victim had at least $232,026 and was receiving Social Security Administration retirement benefits and Veteran\\u2019s Affairs benefits monthly. He gave Pyeatt his debit cards so she could buy groceries for him. Pyeatt, however, used the card to make cash withdrawals and additional unauthorized purchases. Before Pyeatt started working for the victim, he had 20 to 30 debit transactions per month. That ballooned to as many as 330 transactions per month. By July 2025, the victim\\u2019s account balance had declined to less than $5,600.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPyeatt is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T16:05:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788552346\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:58:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788551880\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ELoretta Pyeatt admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dent County Caregiver Admits Stealing from Client\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\",\"name\":\"Elder Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/dent-county-caregiver-admits-stealing-client\",\"uuid\":\"f21ea2c1-eab4-4f31-ae23-e0e5e00aef46\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man was sentenced to 81 months in prison for federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EStephen Craig Campbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 76, became a fugitive after being accused in 1982 of attempting to murder his estranged wife\\u2019s boyfriend by planting a homemade explosive device at his home. The device detonated when \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s estranged wife opened the package, causing severe lacerations and the loss of one of her fingers. The explosion also started a fire that spread to a second apartment unit. A 1983 warrant remains outstanding in Wyoming for \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s failure to appear on the original charge of Attempted First-Degree Murder.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter becoming a fugitive, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E went to lengths to conceal his true identity. He stole and assumed the identity of his deceased former classmate, Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22, just months after graduating from the University of Arkansas with an engineering degree. \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E first applied for a U.S. passport in Coffman\\u2019s name in 1984, submitting his own photograph and current address. He later used the stolen identity to obtain a replacement Social Security card, multiple passports and a New Mexico driver\\u2019s license, and to purchase property in Weed, New Mexico. \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E continued using Coffman\\u2019s identity for decades, including presenting a fraudulent passport to a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division employee in 2019 to renew a driver\\u2019s license in Coffman\\u2019s name.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUsing Coffman\\u2019s identity, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E also fraudulently obtained over $138,000 in Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits beginning in 2015.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe decades-long scheme finally unraveled after \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E presented fraudulent documents to renew his driver\\u0027s license at a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department in Cloudcroft in September 2019. Following the renewal, agents from the National Passport Center\\u0027s Fraud Prevention Unit discovered Coffman\\u0027s 1975 death and alerted federal authorities to the ongoing identity fraud, sparking the joint FBI and Social Security Administration OIG investigation that uncovered \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0027s true identity as a long-time violent fugitive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 19, 2025, FBI SWAT teams from Albuquerque and El Paso, supported by aerial assets, approached \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s property to execute an arrest warrant and search warrant. Air surveillance observed \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E leave the back of his home and enter the wood line. Wearing camouflage, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E remained in the wooded area despite commands from agents. After flash bangs were deployed and agents issued additional commands, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E emerged and surrendered. A loaded rifle equipped with a scope and a 20-round magazine was recovered from the wood line. A search of the property recovered a total of 57 firearms, along with large quantities of ammunition and firearm magazines.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E pleaded guilty to misuse of a passport, possession of false papers to defraud U.S., aggravated identity theft, and being a fugitive from justice in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;will be subject to three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECampbell\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the SSA OIG\\u0026nbsp;Corwin Rattler made the announcement today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was co-investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office and the Social Security Administration\\u2019s Office of the Inspector General. It was originally initiated by the United States State Department Diplomatic Security Service\\u2019s El Paso Resident Office and the National Passport Center\\u2019s Fraud Prevention Unit. Enforcement assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, as well as the Otero County Sheriff\\u0027s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:10:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788531059\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Mexico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:09:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788530969\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-260\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EStephen Craig Campbell,\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man, was sentenced to 81 months in prison for federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Fugitive Who Stole Dead Man\\u2019s Identity Sentenced\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nm\\/pr\\/fugitive-who-stole-dead-mans-identity-sentenced\",\"uuid\":\"1ce5d54b-68db-4300-b795-751400f8d4a7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery man has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea to possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ryan Deleon Johnson, 48, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 106 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Johnson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to Johnson\\u2019s plea agreement and other court records, on June 13, 2025, agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Johnson, who had outstanding arrest warrants dating back to December 2024. As agents approached the vehicle, Johnson fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the pursuit, Johnson ran numerous stop signs and repeatedly swerved into oncoming traffic, including driving directly towards pursuing patrol vehicles, in an effort to evade capture. Johnson eventually drove onto Interstate 65 North, where he continued driving erratically and struck a patrol vehicle. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the interstate, and came to a stop on the shoulder, where agents took him into custody.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and marijuana. During his May 11, 2026, plea hearing, Johnson admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute them and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBecause Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:23:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788528230\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u0022202 [...truncated 13350 characters...] nt Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:12:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788556333\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"7134133d-a27a-4c2c-8c45-cdc1da8e9c1a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T16:09:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788552567\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1025\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/florida-men-sentenced-prison-348m-health-care-fraud-scheme-targeting-medicare-beneficiaries\",\"uuid\":\"81a442e3-3980-457f-a57d-2a4daf8147cd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDALLAS \\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEduardo Brito Leaton pleaded guilty May 14 to sexual exploitation of a child and to committing that felony offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cEduardo Leaton\\u2019s actions inflicted profound and lasting harm on a vulnerable child, and today\\u2019s lengthy sentence underscores this office\\u2019s unwavering commitment to protecting the most innocent among us,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\u201cIn this district, those who target minors will face the full measure of federal justice. We will use every lawful tool at our disposal to ensure offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPredators who target children, whether across the street or across international borders, will be held accountable,\\u201d said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. \\u201cThis 60-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Leaton\\u2019s crimes and the unwavering commitment of our HSI special agents, and all our law enforcement partners in the fight to protect children and pursue justice for victims.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on June 15, 2024, Leaton used an internet\\u2011connected cellular telephone to induce a 13\\u2011year\\u2011old minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual media, which were transmitted via the Internet, a means of interstate and foreign commerce. Investigators later traced the communications to Leaton, who was residing at the Dallas Transitional Housing Center. His cellular telephone was seized during a parole\\u2011related contact, and a search warrant revealed digital evidence supporting the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents revealed that Leaton was required to register as a sex offender due to multiple prior convictions, including three Dallas County convictions from 2021 for possession or promotion of child pornography, which require lifetime registration under Texas law, and several convictions from Los Angeles County, California, for sexual offenses involving minors. While under those registration requirements, he committed the June 2024 offense involving the minor victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Reed O\\u2019Connor sentenced Leaton to 600 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and 120 months for committing a felony offense against a minor victim while being required to register as a sex offender. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 720 months.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations Dallas; Waterloo, Canada Regional Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Dallas Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff\\u2019s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade from the Violent Crimes section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E###\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T18:00:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788559252\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:49:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788558565\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dallas man sentenced to 720 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and offenses committed while a registered sex offender\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/dallas-man-sentenced-720-months-sexual-exploitation-minor-and-offenses-committed-while\",\"uuid\":\"b1c0abe5-bc28-4048-bf6d-0798610e81a3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to nearly four years in prison for performing thousands of cosmetic injection procedures using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections and falsely represented herself as a nurse, received more than $1 million in payments from more than 900 clients for these procedures. Defendant owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERebecca Fadanelli, 40, of Stoughton, Mass. was sentenced on Sept. 2, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 46 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Fadanelli was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture each in the amount of $1,001,562.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/med-spa-owner-pleads-guilty-performing-thousands-injections-using-counterfeit-products\\u0022\\u003EIn April 2026,\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Fadanelli pleaded guilty to four counts of importing merchandise contrary to law, two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug and two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. She was arrested and charged\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/spa-owner-arrested-allegedly-performing-thousands-illegal-counterfeit-injections-clients\\u0022\\u003Ein November 2024.\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was not a mistake or a one-time lapse in judgment. Rebecca Fadanelli built a business on deception and repeatedly put profit ahead of the health and safety of the people who trusted her,\\u201d said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. \\u201cShe lied about being a nurse, injected counterfeit products into hundreds of clients even after federal authorities seized her shipments, searched her businesses and ultimately arrested her. Her victims were left with infections, facial paralysis, vision problems, scars and the lasting fear of not knowing what was injected into their bodies. As cosmetic injections and med spas continue to grow in popularity, this case underscores a serious and growing public health threat: counterfeit products and unlicensed providers can cause devastating harm. Those who knowingly put consumers at risk for profit will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFDA requirements are designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and devices distributed to American consumers. Administering counterfeit products for profit puts consumers at serious risk,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentencing demonstrates that the FDA will continue to hold accountable those who endanger public health.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in at least March 2021, Fadanelli owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass. Although Fadanelli was an aesthetician who was never licensed to perform injections or otherwise dispense or administer prescription drugs or devices, she offered botulinum toxin and dermal filler injections to clients and falsely represented to clients and employees that she was a licensed nurse. Fadanelli also misrepresented the identity and safety of the substances she was injecting, telling clients that she was using authentic Botox and FDA-approved dermal fillers such as Sculptra, Restylane and Juv\\u00e9derm. In reality she was using counterfeit versions of these products, many of which she imported from China and Brazil. There is no record that Fadanelli ever purchased authentic prescription drugs or devices directly from the manufacturers of those FDA-approved products.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBusiness records show that between approximately March 2021 and June 2024 alone, Fadanelli performed more than 2,700 botulinum toxin and dermal filler injection procedures using counterfeit prescription drugs and devices. More than 900 clients paid a combined total of more than $1 million for the procedures.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFadanelli continued operating her med spa illegally despite repeated warnings and law enforcement intervention. After federal authorities began seizing international shipments of counterfeit prescription drugs and devices addressed to Fadanelli\\u2019s home and business \\u2013 and notified her that the products were misbranded and unapproved \\u2013 Fadanelli took steps to conceal her continuing activity. Among other things, she directed suppliers to use different delivery addresses and other individuals\\u2019 names as recipients in an effort to avoid additional seizures.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 28, 2024, during searches at both Skin Beaute locations, products labeled as Botox, Sculptra, Restylane and Juv\\u00e9derm that the product manufacturers subsequently identified as counterfeit, were recovered. Bacteriostatic water, used to dilute Botox that laboratory testing found contained methylobacterium, a bacteria that can cause infection, was also found.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFadanelli continued offering and performing injection procedures until her arrest on Nov. 1, 2024. However, in May 2025 while on pretrial release following her arrest, Fadanelli performed an injection procedure at her home using an unknown substance that the client reportedly believed to be Sculptra. Her pretrial release was later revoked, and she has remained in custody since November 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENumerous clients suffered adverse health effects as a result of injections performed by Fadanelli, including severe swelling, infections, drooping or paralysis of the face and eyes, double vision, impaired eyesight and hard lumps or nodules. Multiple clients were hospitalized, and many required follow-up treatment from licensed medical professionals.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor example, one client spent weeks hospitalized after developing severe facial swelling, headaches, weakness and fever-like symptoms following botulinum toxin injections. Another victim was hospitalized for four days after experiencing facial drooping and paralysis, double vision and headaches; another client suffered impaired vision for approximately three months; and a separate client ultimately underwent corrective surgery to remove a hard lump beneath her skin and was left with scarring.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhen clients reported adverse reactions, Fadanelli often dismissed their concerns or provided misleading assurances, in some cases falsely claiming that she had used authentic FDA-approved products for the clients\\u2019 injection procedures. Fadanelli told some of these clients to return to Skin Beaute for additional treatments.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Foley, FDA-CI SAC McMillan; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Medicaid Fraud Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General\\u2019s Office and the Stoughton and Randolph Police Departments also provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Sarah Hoefle of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T11:36:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788536194\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:31:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788532286\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to nearly four years in prison for performing thousands of cosmetic injection procedures using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections and falsely represented herself as a nurse, received more than $1 million in payments from more than 900 clients for these procedures. Defendant owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Med Spa Owner Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Performing Thousands of Counterfeit Botox and Filler Injections\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3f6710a-213c-41e6-b11b-3abebf00d2b3\",\"name\":\"Consumer Protection\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/med-spa-owner-sentenced-46-months-prison-performing-thousands-counterfeit-botox-and\",\"uuid\":\"64a7343a-fed6-4878-8064-3790b95ef560\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle.\\u0026nbsp; Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESuperior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim\\u2019s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim\\u2019s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim\\u2019s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver\\u2019s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim\\u2019s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims\\u2019 belongings, and Pyne drove away.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF3 001561\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:38:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788550682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:35:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788550528\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/armed-robber-pleads-guilty-2023-and-2024-crime-spree\",\"uuid\":\"3abebd8d-c866-4a85-bb5f-d724153a8218\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Georgian national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly conspiring to launder the proceeds of a $1.3 billion health care fraud scheme while he was illegally in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EErekle Gugava, 33, a Georgian national, was indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy. Gugava fled the United States in July 2025, after the alleged conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Gugava was a money launderer for the foreign-based organization that spearheaded the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, dubbed Operation Gold Rush. The organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit and steal from Medicare and other health insurers.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in the charging documents, Gugava purportedly owned ND Medical Solutions, LLC (ND Medical), a durable medical equipment company located in Pennsylvania, between February 2025 and July 2025. During the limited five-month span of Gugava\\u2019s purported ownership, ND Medical submitted at least $1.3 billion in fraudulent DME claims to Medicare, private health insurance companies that contracted to provide Medicare supplemental insurance policies, private employer-sponsored plans and union health plans. These insurers paid ND Medical approximately $6.5 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the scheme, Gugava allegedly facilitated the deposit and transfer of fraud proceeds. Among other things, he allegedly opened several bank accounts in the name of ND Medical \\u2013 for which he was the sole signatory \\u2013 and deposited checks from Medicare Supplemental Insurers and other health insurers into the ND Medical bank accounts. The funds were then ultimately transferred to various overseas bank accounts for the benefit of the organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in charging documents, the fraudulent claims relied, in part, on the stolen identities of citizens from Massachusetts, across New England, and throughout the United States to justify the fraudulent billings. Many of these individuals, including elderly and disabled Americans, reported their concerns to Medicare and its contractors after receiving explanation of benefit forms that reflected them purportedly receiving DME that they did not in fact receive, that was purportedly prescribed by doctors whom they had never visited and purportedly delivered from ND Medical\\u2014a DME company with which they were unfamiliar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs further alleged, the organization exploited the United States\\u2019 financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources. Medicare and established private insurance carriers, giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460246\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/picture1_1_0.png?itok=4cQheJzk\\u0022 width=\\u0022431\\u0022 height=\\u0022351\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Banking surveillance image of Gugava on Feb. 24, 2025 related to ND Medical Bank account opening\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460251\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/picture2_1_0.png?itok=9oekeu0h\\u0022 width=\\u0022557\\u0022 height=\\u0022336\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Banking surveillance image of Gugava on June 9, 2025\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of mone [...truncated]

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":6},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.5201067924499512},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson\\\\u2019s shell corporation or other vendors.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:33:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:31:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899508\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-foundation-it-manager-sentenced-prison-embezzling-nearly-1-million-employer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"736edf4b-594e-4ff4-86d6-a8ef6fee1b4d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively.\\\\u0026nbsp; BARKER faces charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen money for his role in a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, resulting in losses of over $1.7 million to more than 20 victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in January 2026 to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with this scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp; Following sentencing, GIBBS fled to Jamaica and now faces additional charges for bail jumping.\\\\u0026nbsp; BAKER and GIBBS arrived in the United States on August 27, 2026, and were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\\\u0026nbsp; Both cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s extradition makes clear that fraudsters who exploit vulnerable victims will be held accountable and that those who would seek to escape the consequences of their crimes will be relentlessly pursued until they are brought to justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAttempting to escape a federal sentence or hide from charges across the ocean is a losing strategy,\\\\u201d said U.S. Marshal Ricky J. Patel.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cRicki Rickaline Gibbs jumped bail and fled to Jamaica, but the USMS in the Southern District of New York and the USMS Jamaica Foreign Field Office, working hand-in-hand with local Jamaican law enforcement, tracked both Gibbs and Swayne Barker down.\\\\u0026nbsp; Our message is clear: if you prey on vulnerable individuals there will be nowhere safe for you to hide.\\\\u0026nbsp; We will find you and bring you back to answer for your crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Indictment through which BARKER is charged and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom at least in or about 2019 through at least in or about 2023, BARKER and GIBBS defrauded more than 20 victims of over $1.7 million by\\\\u0026nbsp;representing to victims that they had won prizes in a sweepstakes and needed to transfer money to pay taxes and fees to claim their purported prizes.\\\\u0026nbsp;In truth, the victims had not won any sweepstakes prizes, and\\\\u0026nbsp;BARKER, GIBBS,\\\\u0026nbsp;and others misappropriated these victims\\\\u2019 funds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictims of this scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name\\\\u2014e.g., \\\\u201cRobert James,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cRobert Hill,\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cMark Miller\\\\u201d\\\\u2014claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.\\\\u0026nbsp; The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.\\\\u0026nbsp; In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.\\\\u0026nbsp; After luring victims in with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of this scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gibbs is a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, who participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica, including BARKER, who is a citizen of Jamaica.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Indictment charging GIBBS with failure to surrender for service of sentence and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGIBBS was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth M. Karas on January 7, 2026, and ordered to surrender on February 9, 2026, to the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, or to a designated facility.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS failed to surrender to the United States Marshal on that date and instead fled to Jamaica, where she was arrested in April 2026 pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest warrant.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBARKER is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, as well conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS is charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; In addition to this new charge, GIBBS has been extradited to serve her pending sentence of 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS has also been ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing BARKER and GIBBS\\\\u2019s arrest and extradition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges against BARKER in the Superseding Indictment and against GIBBS in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8d8aee892966debd374ca87a58502999\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment\\\\u0026nbsp;against BARKER and the description of the\\\\u0026nbsp;Superseding Indictment against BARKER set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:32:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895929\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:59:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788879550\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-251\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Husband And Wife Fraudsters Extradited From Jamaica After Wife\\\\u2019s Failed Attempt To Flee Justice\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/husband-and-wife-fraudsters-extradited-jamaica-after-wifes-failed-attempt-flee-justice\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d53fb822-470f-496d-8d6f-328a123d5be9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentence\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharge(s)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELovechild McGuire, 33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E28 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EChristopher Flax, 50\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E13 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAmiee Ranes, 46\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETrent Marion. 39\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUnique Carter, 28\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeven years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECamri Outlaw, 31\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETime served, two years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid\\\\u2011level distributors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization\\\\u2019s main stash site.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMethamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,\\\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. \\\\u201cDrug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:25:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788881152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:16:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788880605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/evansville-drug-trafficking-organization-dismantled-six-head-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d411645-5679-408c-bb45-88f694417c48\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066753\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:45:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789065945\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/broken-bow-resident-pleads-guilty-three-counts-child-abuse-indian-country\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a706c0a4-0464-4fde-8a26-5c5e70aabcab\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on Aug. 5, Swan intentionally assaulted a United States Postal Service mail carrier while the victim was engaged in his official duties. Swan allegedly struck the mail carrier several times and threw him to the ground, inflicting bodily injury.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESwan was indicted on Sept. 2 and brought into custody today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssaulting a federal employee carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:02:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883343\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:00:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883221\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man for assaulting postal worker\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/grand-jury-indicts-cincinnati-man-assaulting-postal-worker\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"850de09e-e7f4-4f7c-8314-392f12a3523c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJOHN PAUL GAGE JR\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E., (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E) age 43, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after he previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7841(a)(1), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(A), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(C), and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u00a7846, as well illegal use of communications facility, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7843(b) and Title 18,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a72.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least June 5, 2024,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E conspired with several individuals to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine throughout the Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy involved obtaining narcotics from Houston, Texas and transporting the narcotics to Thibodaux, Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications, and the use of multiple vehicles. On numerous occasions,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eused his cell phone to further this conspiracy and distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to numerous customers in Thibodaux, Louisiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eultimately trafficked at least thirty kilograms of cocaine from Houston into the Eastern District of Louisiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U. S. Attorney Simpson, praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Violent Crimes Unit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:52:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788886370\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:39:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788885592\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJOHN PAUL GAGE JR\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E., (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E) age 43, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after he previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7841(a)(1), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(A), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(C), and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u00a7846, as well illegal use of communications facility, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7843(b) and Title 18,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a72.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/lafourche-parish-resident-sentenced-cocaine-distribution-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46380ca0-59d3-47f4-b37b-d07a579fb612\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 A Moberly, Missouri man was sentenced to 27 months in prison Tuesday and ordered to repay the $284,000 that he fraudulently obtained via a pandemic rental assistance scam.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESteven W. Hendren, 34, submitted numerous fraudulent applications for State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission from March 2021 through June 2024. Hendren falsely listed himself as a landlord in the loan applications and included fake lease agreements and financial statements. He also submitted other applications in which he fraudulently inflated rent amounts and altered lease agreements and financial statements.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe SAFHR program was designed to provide emergency assistance for rent, utility bills and other expenses during the pandemic. Hendren received $284,840, much of which he used for personal expenses including the purchase of a 2020 GMC Yukon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHendren pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of wire fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u0027Fraud Division\\\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:40:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903613\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:36:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903370\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESteven W. Hendren submitted numerous fraudulent applications for State Assistance for Housing Relief rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Missouri Man Sentenced for $284,000 Pandemic Rental Assistance Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7ce2474-26e0-427a-94c4-95dee8df26cb\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Disaster Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/missouri-man-sentenced-284000-pandemic-rental-assistance-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f4a0bdf-b213-4b19-bb4a-eddb8b755bcc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBURLINGTON \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow\\\\u2019s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: \\\\u201cI am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:47:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896876\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:11:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788894663\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/senegalese-man-sentenced-17-months-unlawfully-reentering-united-states-after-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e29a4662-0088-441c-b12c-b5ea6baca3d5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda, a 45-year-old male from Can\\\\u00f3vanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 20, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda on six charges of production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child exploitation material.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, from in or about November 2025, to July 2026, defendant Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda possessed and knowingly accessed with intent to view child pornography. Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda, using his cellular telephone and other electronic devices, which had internet capabilities, possessed images and videos of child pornography including images of toddlers, prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom or about January 9, 2026, to on or about January 12, 2026, Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda knowingly induced, enticed, and coerced a minor, or attempted to do so, that is a 3-year-old male minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The defendant is also charged with two more counts of production of child pornography in February and April 2026, for enticing and coercing a prepubescent male minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda is also facing one count of receipt and one count of transportation of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThose who prey on children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,\\\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico. \\\\u201cI thank the dedicated HSI agents and prosecutors who investigated and charged this case for their tireless efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBehind every child exploitation case is a child who has been harmed, and this arrest is another urgent reminder that predators do not fit one profile, and victims do not fit one gender,\\\\u201d said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. \\\\u201cHSI San Juan has seen a troubling pattern of adult males seeking to exploit male minors, and we will continue to call attention to that reality without minimizing the risk to any child. Our message is clear: child exploitation is not limited by stereotypes, and neither is our enforcement response. HSI San Juan will follow the evidence, identify victims, and pursue those accused of targeting children with the full weight of our investigative authorities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Daynelle \\\\u00c1lvarez-Lora from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) production of child pornography \\\\u2013 minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison; (2) receipt of child exploitation material \\\\u2013 five to 20 years in prison; (2) transportation of child exploitation material \\\\u2013 five to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography \\\\u2013 a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about HSI\\\\u2019s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.dhs.gov\\\\/k2p\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKnow2Protect.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\\\/psc.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:10:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883840\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:57:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883068\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-095\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda, a 45-year-old male from Can\\\\u00f3vanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"45-Year-Old Can\\\\u00f3vanas Man Arrested for Child Exploitation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/45-year-old-canovanas-man-arrested-child-exploitation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"af92f18d-bb8c-4e69-aeb8-11474266f232\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\\\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Scott Testa, 60, of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with two counts of cyberstalking, arising from online conduct targeting a local government official, a police officer, and their families.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant appeared in federal court this afternoon for a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott W. Reid, at which Testa was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment alleges that, on multiple dates in April of this year, the defendant, with the intent to harass and intimidate two victims affiliated with Whitpain Township, used the internet and\\\\/or electronic mail to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, as alleged, in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image depicting one victim wearing a white Ku Klux Klan robe with the name of his current employer in the background, and included false information about the victim, which defendant Testa knew to be false when it was posted. Then, as further alleged, Testa posted the names of this victim\\\\u2019s children and an address of a home which he believed to be the victim\\\\u2019s true home address.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition, the indictment alleges that, also in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image of a second victim and his family, including his minor children, with their faces exposed so that they could be identified, depicting them all wearing white Ku Klux Klan robes. Each time, along with the photograph, the defendant identified the victim and his family. Testa also posted messages directed at the victim, like \\\\u201cwe are watching you,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cwe are coming,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201c\\\\u2026This does not get erased; it\\\\u2019s forever. Your career and your family\\\\u2019s future is going to be pockmarked with you cowards. \\\\u2026 we are going to run you out of town.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia\\\\u2019s Fort Washington Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:38:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899909\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T14:05:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788890708\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Montgomery County Man Charged With Cyberstalking in Connection With Messages Targeting Local Official, Police Officer, and Their Families\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Cybercrime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edpa\\\\/pr\\\\/montgomery-county-man-charged-cyberstalking-connection-messages-targeting-local\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"16f2093f-e506-4fd9-85ee-dd3e9cadad6c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on October 13, 2016.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETOVAR-MERCADO \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efaces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release,\\\\u0026nbsp;and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;He is also eligible for a 10-year enhanced sentencing because of felony convictions in the Western District of Texas for illegal re-entry into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Border Patrol\\\\u0026nbsp;in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:12:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788898376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:03:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788897807\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013 \\\\u0026nbsp;ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Convictions \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-illegal-alien-indicted-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien-enhanced-penalty-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aff2b2dc-078f-4f69-b630-4c0e02b88089\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 25, 2024, FBI Special Agents arrested Torres-Gerena, former boxing coach, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 16-year-old female minor. Evidence and witness testimonies presented during trial revealed that the defendant, who was a trusted father figure for the victim, invited her to lunch and instead transported her to a motel and attempted to rape her.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese cases are particularly sensitive and require expertise, patience, understanding, and compassion for the victim,\\\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez Carb\\\\u00f3. \\\\u201cThis verdict sends a clear message that those who exploit minors or attempt to do so will be held fully accountable and face significant consequences for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s verdict reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,\\\\u201d said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s San Juan Field Office. \\\\u201cThanks to the courage of the victim and the dedicated work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, justice was served. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who exploit or harm children are brought to account, no exceptions.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, followed by a supervised release term of five years up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, at 9:00 am. The defendant was ordered detained in custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle \\\\u00c1lvarez\\\\u2011Lora and Fabiola Rivera-Laboy from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\\\/psc.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:52:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788879122\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:39:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788878362\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-094\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"60-Year-Old Man from Arecibo Found Guilty of Child Exploitation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/60-year-old-man-arecibo-found-guilty-child-exploitation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f918e98a-f5aa-4b3a-a6ef-5d0f8549bacc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFORT WORTH, Texas \\\\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, launched Operation New Day, a public safety initiative aimed at ridding the Fort Worth community of dangerous criminal offenders in advance of the upcoming holiday season.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFormally launched on Aug. 24, this 90-day operation focuses on prosecuting narcotics traffickers, dangerous illegal aliens and other violent offenders. By removing these threats from the community, U.S. Attorney Raybould aims to help ensure a safer and more family\\\\u2011friendly holiday season.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELess than two weeks since its inception, Operation New Day has resulted in 23 new federal cases being filed by the Fort Worth Division.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThose who break our laws, flood our streets with drugs and commit violent acts in our community should understand that they are not welcome in Fort Worth,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\\\u201cNorth Texas will not serve as a refuge for individuals who persist in violating federal law, nor will it provide a respite for those who believe they can evade justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESince launching Operation New Day, the Fort Worth Division has seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Ealong with distribution quantities of crack cocaine, and powder cocaine. Additional charges have been filed against multiple individuals for offenses including possession of a machine gun, escape from detention, narcotics distribution and illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFort Worth is the 10th\\\\u2011largest city in the nation and Operation New Day represents a significant step toward making Fort Worth the safest big city in the nation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-05T10:00:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788616816\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-05T09:58:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788616722\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788609600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, launched Operation New Day, a public safety initiative aimed at ridding the Fort Worth community of dangerous criminal offenders in advance of the upcoming holiday season.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"It\\\\u2019s a New Day in Fort Worth: Federal operation aims to remove violent offenders from the community\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/its-new-day-fort-worth-federal-operation-aims-remove-violent-offenders-community\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3edc3991-2e4b-40b2-8e76-cb3082305cd5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth\\\\u2019s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:15:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556527\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:13:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556396\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-213\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/dillon-man-sentenced-18-months-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5ef9ed54-dd8a-45f8-9d48-7b8b62b04140\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFive individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,\\\\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \\\\u201cIt is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, these five individuals in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, including two illegal aliens, stole votes from American citizens when they decided to break the law and undermine our elections,\\\\u201d said FBI Director Kash Patel. \\\\u201cProtecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI. Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections, and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. \\\\u201cIllegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic. This office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cGovernment has a responsibility to the people to safeguard elections,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cEven one illegal vote is one too many.\\\\u0026nbsp;Here in New Jersey, the federal government is taking this responsibility seriously and violations of federal election law will be investigated and prosecuted to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that no citizens\\\\u2019 votes are diluted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cProtecting the integrity of federal elections is a fundamental responsibility of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. \\\\u201cThe charge against this defendant reflects our commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring that every vote cast complies fully with federal requirements. No one is above these obligations, and my office will continue to pursue cases where unlawful voting occurs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation\\\\u2019s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,\\\\u201d said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). \\\\u201cThe American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMiddle District of Pennsylvania\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Guzman illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Guzman was charged with voting as an alien. Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting and fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKatya Rodriguez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Holtzman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Guzman faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHSI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting the cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDistrict of New Jersey\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County, New Jersey, was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. According to the complaint, Cardoso was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a U.S. citizen, which is required to register to vote and vote in federal elections.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECardoso allegedly cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates who were vying for election for the office of President and Vice President of the United States. At the time she cast her ballot, Cardoso, who entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa, was not a U.S. citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Cardoso faces a maximum\\\\u0026nbsp;penalty\\\\u0026nbsp;of one year in prison. She is scheduled to have an initial appearance on Sept. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI, HSI, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren for the District of New Jersey is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EWestern District of Wisconsin\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Beloit, Wisconsin, was charged on Sept. 2, with illegally voting as an alien in the November 2022 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to a criminal information, on Nov. 8, 2022, Jurado Garcia, knowing he was not a U.S. citizen, illegally voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the offices of Member of the Senate and Member of the House of Representatives.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Jurado Garcia faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EA complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:35:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546931\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e99b9547-7d65-42c6-9404-68fab0db9543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Attorney General\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:57:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788530244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1020\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFive individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registration in 2022 or 2024 Election\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Voting and Elections\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/five-charged-pennsylvania-new-jersey-and-wisconsin-illegally-voting-fraudulent-registration\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e817d062-8de5-4e4e-8ec0-1b5450c8559f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A federal jury has convicted two defendants of conspiring to retaliate against individuals who provided information to law enforcement during an investigation of a violent Chicago street gang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMARKEEVES BROOKS knowingly conspired to retaliate against an individual and DONNITA BRYANT knowingly conspired to retaliate against two individuals who cooperated with law enforcement in a federal investigation of the Faceworld street gang.\\\\u0026nbsp; Bryant\\\\u2019s son, DIONTAE HARPER, was a member of Faceworld and a subject of the investigation and prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp; The two cooperating individuals provided information against Harper in a murder case in which he was charged and were providing additional information in a related investigation into the Faceworld gang.\\\\u0026nbsp; From January to September 2025, Brooks and Bryant publicly disseminated a video of a law enforcement interview with one of the cooperators and discussed publicizing a sworn grand jury statement by the other cooperator.\\\\u0026nbsp; Harper had received the video and the grand jury statement during the discovery and sentencing phases of his murder case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The discovery materials were subject to a protective order and were legally prohibited from being shared with others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAfter an eight-day trial in U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;District Court in Chicago, the jury on Wednesday convicted Brooks, 28, of Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa, and Bryant, 47, of Chicago, of conspiracy\\\\u0026nbsp;to commit witness retaliation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Brooks was also convicted of a substantive offense of witness retaliation.\\\\u0026nbsp; The jury acquitted Bryant of the same substantive offense, and also acquitted a third defendant, MICHAELA\\\\u0026nbsp;RICHARD, 26, of Chicago, of the sole\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiracy count against her.\\\\u0026nbsp; U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin has not yet set sentencing dates for Brooks and Bryant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHarper, 26, of Chicago, pleaded guilty\\\\u0026nbsp;prior to trial to a witness retaliation charge.\\\\u0026nbsp;Harper\\\\u2019s sentencing has not yet been scheduled.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz, Sushma Raju, John \\\\u201cL.J.\\\\u201d Pavletic, and Jessica Ecker.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn May 2025, Harper was convicted in the murder case and subsequently\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-judge-sentences-chicago-street-gang-member-34-years-prison-murdering-man-and\\\\u0022\\\\u003Esentenced\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to 34 years in federal prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; The murder occurred in 2020 in Chicago\\\\u2019s Auburn Gresham neighborhood.\\\\u0026nbsp; Harper admitted in a plea agreement that he fatally shot a man so that Harper could maintain and increase his position in Faceworld, whose members engaged in violent crimes and trafficked narcotics.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:18:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788549504\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:14:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788549296\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMARKEEVES BROOKS and DONNITA BRYANT conspired\\\\u0026nbsp;to commit witness retaliation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Jury Convicts Two Defendants of Conspiring To Retaliate Against Individuals Who Cooperated With Law Enforcement in Chicago Gang Investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-two-defendants-conspiring-retaliate-against-individuals-who\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"877c739d-e666-41e3-8588-42942c912206\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHATTANOOGA, Tenn. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp; On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.\\\\u0026nbsp; Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 2251(a) and (e).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that\\\\u0026nbsp;through his Instagram account of \\\\u201ccandy_cams,\\\\u201d and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online.\\\\u0026nbsp; To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender.\\\\u0026nbsp; By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.\\\\u0026nbsp; Buckley\\\\u2019s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about PSC, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about internet safety education, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E and click the tab \\\\u0022resources.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:20:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788535230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3601535d-4e8a-4029-a9aa-12d40fdbfa41\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T06:55:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788519356\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtn\\\\/pr\\\\/chattanooga-man-sentenced-25-years-exploitation-minor\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0dfd75c5-cf1a-47fa-9983-12667c90c25d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 A caregiver from Dent County, Missouri on Friday admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELoretta Pyeatt, 52, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of fraud in connection with access devices. She admitted that she worked for the victim from roughly July 2023 to September 2025. At the time she started, the victim had at least $232,026 and was receiving Social Security Administration retirement benefits and Veteran\\\\u2019s Affairs benefits monthly. He gave Pyeatt his debit cards so she could buy groceries for him. Pyeatt, however, used the card to make cash withdrawals and additional unauthorized purchases. Before Pyeatt started working for the victim, he had 20 to 30 debit transactions per month. That ballooned to as many as 330 transactions per month. By July 2025, the victim\\\\u2019s account balance had declined to less than $5,600.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyeatt is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:05:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788552346\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:58:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788551880\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELoretta Pyeatt admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dent County Caregiver Admits Stealing from Client\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Elder Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/dent-county-caregiver-admits-stealing-client\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f21ea2c1-eab4-4f31-ae23-e0e5e00aef46\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man was sentenced to 81 months in prison for federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EStephen Craig Campbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 76, became a fugitive after being accused in 1982 of attempting to murder his estranged wife\\\\u2019s boyfriend by planting a homemade explosive device at his home. The device detonated when \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s estranged wife opened the package, causing severe lacerations and the loss of one of her fingers. The explosion also started a fire that spread to a second apartment unit. A 1983 warrant remains outstanding in Wyoming for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s failure to appear on the original charge of Attempted First-Degree Murder.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter becoming a fugitive, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E went to lengths to conceal his true identity. He stole and assumed the identity of his deceased former classmate, Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22, just months after graduating from the University of Arkansas with an engineering degree. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E first applied for a U.S. passport in Coffman\\\\u2019s name in 1984, submitting his own photograph and current address. He later used the stolen identity to obtain a replacement Social Security card, multiple passports and a New Mexico driver\\\\u2019s license, and to purchase property in Weed, New Mexico. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E continued using Coffman\\\\u2019s identity for decades, including presenting a fraudulent passport to a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division employee in 2019 to renew a driver\\\\u2019s license in Coffman\\\\u2019s name.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUsing Coffman\\\\u2019s identity, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E also fraudulently obtained over $138,000 in Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits beginning in 2015.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe decades-long scheme finally unraveled after \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E presented fraudulent documents to renew his driver\\\\u0027s license at a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department in Cloudcroft in September 2019. Following the renewal, agents from the National Passport Center\\\\u0027s Fraud Prevention Unit discovered Coffman\\\\u0027s 1975 death and alerted federal authorities to the ongoing identity fraud, sparking the joint FBI and Social Security Administration OIG investigation that uncovered \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0027s true identity as a long-time violent fugitive.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 19, 2025, FBI SWAT teams from Albuquerque and El Paso, supported by aerial assets, approached \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s property to execute an arrest warrant and search warrant. Air surveillance observed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E leave the back of his home and enter the wood line. Wearing camouflage, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E remained in the wooded area despite commands from agents. After flash bangs were deployed and agents issued additional commands, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E emerged and surrendered. A loaded rifle equipped with a scope and a 20-round magazine was recovered from the wood line. A search of the property recovered a total of 57 firearms, along with large quantities of ammunition and firearm magazines.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to misuse of a passport, possession of false papers to defraud U.S., aggravated identity theft, and being a fugitive from justice in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;will be subject to three years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the SSA OIG\\\\u0026nbsp;Corwin Rattler made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was co-investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office and the Social Security Administration\\\\u2019s Office of the Inspector General. It was originally initiated by the United States State Department Diplomatic Security Service\\\\u2019s El Paso Resident Office and the National Passport Center\\\\u2019s Fraud Prevention Unit. Enforcement assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, as well as the Otero County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:10:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788531059\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:09:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788530969\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-260\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EStephen Craig Campbell,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man, was sentenced to 81 months in prison for federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Fugitive Who Stole Dead Man\\\\u2019s Identity Sentenced\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/fugitive-who-stole-dead-mans-identity-sentenced\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1ce5d54b-68db-4300-b795-751400f8d4a7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\\\u2014 Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery man has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea to possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ryan Deleon Johnson, 48, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 106 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Johnson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Johnson\\\\u2019s plea agreement and other court records, on June 13, 2025, agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Johnson, who had outstanding arrest warrants dating back to December 2024. As agents approached the vehicle, Johnson fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the pursuit, Johnson ran numerous stop signs and repeatedly swerved into oncoming traffic, including driving directly towards pursuing patrol vehicles, in an effort to evade capture. Johnson eventually drove onto Interstate 65 North, where he continued driving erratically and struck a patrol vehicle. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the interstate, and came to a stop on the shoulder, where agents took him into custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and marijuana. During his May 11, 2026, plea hearing, Johnson admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute them and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBecause Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:23:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u0022202\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nnt Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:12:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556333\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7134133d-a27a-4c2c-8c45-cdc1da8e9c1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:09:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788552567\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1025\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/florida-men-sentenced-prison-348m-health-care-fraud-scheme-targeting-medicare-beneficiaries\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"81a442e3-3980-457f-a57d-2a4daf8147cd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDALLAS \\\\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEduardo Brito Leaton pleaded guilty May 14 to sexual exploitation of a child and to committing that felony offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEduardo Leaton\\\\u2019s actions inflicted profound and lasting harm on a vulnerable child, and today\\\\u2019s lengthy sentence underscores this office\\\\u2019s unwavering commitment to protecting the most innocent among us,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\\\u201cIn this district, those who target minors will face the full measure of federal justice. We will use every lawful tool at our disposal to ensure offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPredators who target children, whether across the street or across international borders, will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. \\\\u201cThis 60-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Leaton\\\\u2019s crimes and the unwavering commitment of our HSI special agents, and all our law enforcement partners in the fight to protect children and pursue justice for victims.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on June 15, 2024, Leaton used an internet\\\\u2011connected cellular telephone to induce a 13\\\\u2011year\\\\u2011old minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual media, which were transmitted via the Internet, a means of interstate and foreign commerce. Investigators later traced the communications to Leaton, who was residing at the Dallas Transitional Housing Center. His cellular telephone was seized during a parole\\\\u2011related contact, and a search warrant revealed digital evidence supporting the offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents revealed that Leaton was required to register as a sex offender due to multiple prior convictions, including three Dallas County convictions from 2021 for possession or promotion of child pornography, which require lifetime registration under Texas law, and several convictions from Los Angeles County, California, for sexual offenses involving minors. While under those registration requirements, he committed the June 2024 offense involving the minor victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Reed O\\\\u2019Connor sentenced Leaton to 600 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and 120 months for committing a felony offense against a minor victim while being required to register as a sex offender. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 720 months.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations Dallas; Waterloo, Canada Regional Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Dallas Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade from the Violent Crimes section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T18:00:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788559252\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:49:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788558565\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dallas man sentenced to 720 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and offenses committed while a registered sex offender\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/dallas-man-sentenced-720-months-sexual-exploitation-minor-and-offenses-committed-while\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1c0abe5-bc28-4048-bf6d-0798610e81a3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to nearly four years in prison for performing thousands of cosmetic injection procedures using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections and falsely represented herself as a nurse, received more than $1 million in payments from more than 900 clients for these procedures. Defendant owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERebecca Fadanelli, 40, of Stoughton, Mass. was sentenced on Sept. 2, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 46 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Fadanelli was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture each in the amount of $1,001,562.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/med-spa-owner-pleads-guilty-performing-thousands-injections-using-counterfeit-products\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026,\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E Fadanelli pleaded guilty to four counts of importing merchandise contrary to law, two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug and two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. She was arrested and charged\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/spa-owner-arrested-allegedly-performing-thousands-illegal-counterfeit-injections-clients\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein November 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was not a mistake or a one-time lapse in judgment. Rebecca Fadanelli built a business on deception and repeatedly put profit ahead of the health and safety of the people who trusted her,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. \\\\u201cShe lied about being a nurse, injected counterfeit products into hundreds of clients even after federal authorities seized her shipments, searched her businesses and ultimately arrested her. Her victims were left with infections, facial paralysis, vision problems, scars and the lasting fear of not knowing what was injected into their bodies. As cosmetic injections and med spas continue to grow in popularity, this case underscores a serious and growing public health threat: counterfeit products and unlicensed providers can cause devastating harm. Those who knowingly put consumers at risk for profit will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFDA requirements are designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and devices distributed to American consumers. Administering counterfeit products for profit puts consumers at serious risk,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentencing demonstrates that the FDA will continue to hold accountable those who endanger public health.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in at least March 2021, Fadanelli owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass. Although Fadanelli was an aesthetician who was never licensed to perform injections or otherwise dispense or administer prescription drugs or devices, she offered botulinum toxin and dermal filler injections to clients and falsely represented to clients and employees that she was a licensed nurse. Fadanelli also misrepresented the identity and safety of the substances she was injecting, telling clients that she was using authentic Botox and FDA-approved dermal fillers such as Sculptra, Restylane and Juv\\\\u00e9derm. In reality she was using counterfeit versions of these products, many of which she imported from China and Brazil. There is no record that Fadanelli ever purchased authentic prescription drugs or devices directly from the manufacturers of those FDA-approved products.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBusiness records show that between approximately March 2021 and June 2024 alone, Fadanelli performed more than 2,700 botulinum toxin and dermal filler injection procedures using counterfeit prescription drugs and devices. More than 900 clients paid a combined total of more than $1 million for the procedures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFadanelli continued operating her med spa illegally despite repeated warnings and law enforcement intervention. After federal authorities began seizing international shipments of counterfeit prescription drugs and devices addressed to Fadanelli\\\\u2019s home and business \\\\u2013 and notified her that the products were misbranded and unapproved \\\\u2013 Fadanelli took steps to conceal her continuing activity. Among other things, she directed suppliers to use different delivery addresses and other individuals\\\\u2019 names as recipients in an effort to avoid additional seizures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 28, 2024, during searches at both Skin Beaute locations, products labeled as Botox, Sculptra, Restylane and Juv\\\\u00e9derm that the product manufacturers subsequently identified as counterfeit, were recovered. Bacteriostatic water, used to dilute Botox that laboratory testing found contained methylobacterium, a bacteria that can cause infection, was also found.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFadanelli continued offering and performing injection procedures until her arrest on Nov. 1, 2024. However, in May 2025 while on pretrial release following her arrest, Fadanelli performed an injection procedure at her home using an unknown substance that the client reportedly believed to be Sculptra. Her pretrial release was later revoked, and she has remained in custody since November 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENumerous clients suffered adverse health effects as a result of injections performed by Fadanelli, including severe swelling, infections, drooping or paralysis of the face and eyes, double vision, impaired eyesight and hard lumps or nodules. Multiple clients were hospitalized, and many required follow-up treatment from licensed medical professionals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor example, one client spent weeks hospitalized after developing severe facial swelling, headaches, weakness and fever-like symptoms following botulinum toxin injections. Another victim was hospitalized for four days after experiencing facial drooping and paralysis, double vision and headaches; another client suffered impaired vision for approximately three months; and a separate client ultimately underwent corrective surgery to remove a hard lump beneath her skin and was left with scarring.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen clients reported adverse reactions, Fadanelli often dismissed their concerns or provided misleading assurances, in some cases falsely claiming that she had used authentic FDA-approved products for the clients\\\\u2019 injection procedures. Fadanelli told some of these clients to return to Skin Beaute for additional treatments.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Foley, FDA-CI SAC McMillan; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Medicaid Fraud Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office and the Stoughton and Randolph Police Departments also provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Sarah Hoefle of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:36:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788536194\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:31:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788532286\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to nearly four years in prison for performing thousands of cosmetic injection procedures using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections and falsely represented herself as a nurse, received more than $1 million in payments from more than 900 clients for these procedures. Defendant owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Med Spa Owner Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Performing Thousands of Counterfeit Botox and Filler Injections\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3f6710a-213c-41e6-b11b-3abebf00d2b3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Consumer Protection\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/med-spa-owner-sentenced-46-months-prison-performing-thousands-counterfeit-botox-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"64a7343a-fed6-4878-8064-3790b95ef560\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESuperior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the government\\\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim\\\\u2019s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim\\\\u2019s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim\\\\u2019s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver\\\\u2019s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim\\\\u2019s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims\\\\u2019 belongings, and Pyne drove away.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E2024 CF3 001561\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:35:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550528\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-robber-pleads-guilty-2023-and-2024-crime-spree\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3abebd8d-c866-4a85-bb5f-d724153a8218\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Georgian national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly conspiring to launder the proceeds of a $1.3 billion health care fraud scheme while he was illegally in the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EErekle Gugava, 33, a Georgian national, was indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy. Gugava fled the United States in July 2025, after the alleged conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Gugava was a money launderer for the foreign-based organization that spearheaded the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, dubbed Operation Gold Rush. The organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit and steal from Medicare and other health insurers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the charging documents, Gugava purportedly owned ND Medical Solutions, LLC (ND Medical), a durable medical equipment company located in Pennsylvania, between February 2025 and July 2025. During the limited five-month span of Gugava\\\\u2019s purported ownership, ND Medical submitted at least $1.3 billion in fraudulent DME claims to Medicare, private health insurance companies that contracted to provide Medicare supplemental insurance policies, private employer-sponsored plans and union health plans. These insurers paid ND Medical approximately $6.5 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the scheme, Gugava allegedly facilitated the deposit and transfer of fraud proceeds. Among other things, he allegedly opened several bank accounts in the name of ND Medical \\\\u2013 for which he was the sole signatory \\\\u2013 and deposited checks from Medicare Supplemental Insurers and other health insurers into the ND Medical bank accounts. The funds were then ultimately transferred to various overseas bank accounts for the benefit of the organization.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in charging documents, the fraudulent claims relied, in part, on the stolen identities of citizens from Massachusetts, across New England, and throughout the United States to justify the fraudulent billings. Many of these individuals, including elderly and disabled Americans, reported their concerns to Medicare and its contractors after receiving explanation of benefit forms that reflected them purportedly receiving DME that they did not in fact receive, that was purportedly prescribed by doctors whom they had never visited and purportedly delivered from ND Medical\\\\u2014a DME company with which they were unfamiliar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs further alleged, the organization exploited the United States\\\\u2019 financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources. Medicare and established private insurance carriers, giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460246\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/picture1_1_0.png?itok=4cQheJzk\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022431\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022351\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Banking surveillance image of Gugava on Feb. 24, 2025 related to ND Medical Bank account opening\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460251\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/picture2_1_0.png?itok=9oekeu0h\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022557\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022336\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Banking surveillance image of Gugava on June 9, 2025\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of mone\n[...truncated]",
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{ "brief": "DOJ press releases, page 7 of 50-item pages", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0078

(no result)

Tool Result E0079

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":7},\"executionTime\":2.5406069755554199},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMIAMI \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Two South Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cThese fraudsters billed Medicare $34.8 million for braces that patients didn\\u2019t need and didn\\u2019t request \\u2014 and now they\\u2019re paying the price,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cThey paid kickbacks for fake doctors\\u2019 orders, shuffled billing among several companies to dodge payment suspensions, and pocketed millions that belonged to American taxpayers. Their prison sentences make clear: if you steal from Medicare, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cMedicare is not a blank check for fraudsters,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida. \\u201cThese defendants built a $34.8 million scheme around medically unnecessary braces, fraudulent doctors\\u2019 orders, and illegal kickbacks, all to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. Today\\u2019s sentences reinforce a simple message: if you steal from our health care programs, we will find you, prosecute you, and hold you accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court documents, Kenneth Charles Kessler, III, 43, of Miami, and Michael Andrew Gomez, 43, of Miramar, owned and operated seven durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies based in Florida. Through these DME companies, they submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EKessler and Gomez also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain fraudulent signed doctors\\u2019 orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor needed the braces, and then claimed payment for those braces from Medicare. Kessler and Gomez used their multiple DME companies to evade Medicare payment suspensions by shifting their fraudulent billing between their DME companies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EKessler profited more than $1.4 million, and Gomez profited more than $2.3 million from the fraudulent scheme.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EKessler was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment, and Gomez was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EIn May 2026, Kessler and Gomez each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EFBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ETrial Attorneys Aisha Schafer Hylton and Owen Dunn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.\\u0026nbsp;Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/criminal-fraud\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.flsd.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.flsd.uscourts.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;or at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, under case numbers 25-cr-60188.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:50:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788558633\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7134133d-a27a-4c2c-8c45-cdc1da8e9c1a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:41:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788558061\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ETwo South Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"South Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdfl\\/pr\\/south-florida-men-sentenced-prison-348m-health-care-fraud-scheme-targeting-medicare\",\"uuid\":\"92c972e4-b55f-4b21-8503-99ee99623e20\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A federal judge has sentenced a man to 76 years in prison for violently robbing or attempting to rob four banks in downtown Chicago while on supervised release for prior bank robbery convictions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EJOSEPH DONELSON, JR., 68, of Chicago, committed four robberies or attempted robberies in a two-month period in 2023.\\u0026nbsp; Donelson struck a bank teller in the face in one of the robberies and leapt onto the counter to take money in another one.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe robberies were as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e8569cdf836aa28dc373dcfb99a051188\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOct. 11, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e1377c465959ab968dde47299c5e0e71b\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ENov. 7, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0d86ce34b9c1dabb57407d024e7d6625\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EDec. 8, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 539 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\u2019s Streeterville neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e63770c28ebca16cac6fa0e3c38a2d304\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EDec. 19, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 100 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EDonelson committed the robberies and attempted robberies while he was on court-supervised release following a period of imprisonment for robbing two other banks in Chicago\\u2019s Loop neighborhood in 2007.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460321\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/defendant_donelson_at_bank_counter.jpg?itok=W3QnwfhU\\u0022 width=\\u0022772\\u0022 height=\\u0022460\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Joseph Donelson at the teller counter during a bank robbery.\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460316\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/defendant_donelson_on_bank_counter.jpg?itok=fCL0H9w4\\u0022 width=\\u0022557\\u0022 height=\\u0022282\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Joseph Donelson jumped on the counter during a bank robbery.\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EA jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Donelson of the four robberies and attempted robberies from 2023.\\u0026nbsp; On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Donelson to 76 years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe sentence was\\u0026nbsp;announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and\\u0026nbsp;Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.\\u0026nbsp; Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cDefendant\\u2019s actions terrorized multiple bank employees, causing injury to one and lasting psychological trauma to another,\\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin argued in the government\\u2019s sentencing memorandum.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cHis crimes demonstrated utter disrespect for the law, and a severe sentence is necessary as just punishment.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:12:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788545566\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:07:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788545241\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460316\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"d7b5d865-061d-4d24-86fa-30a24b662890\"},\"alt\":\"Joseph Donelson jumped on the counter during a bank robbery.\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460321\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"455dc25d-336d-49b6-837c-753f2ed66594\"},\"alt\":\"Joseph Donelson at the teller counter during a bank robbery.\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSEPH DONELSON, JR. committed four robberies or attempted robberies in 2023.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 76 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing or Attempting To Rob Four Banks in Chicago While on Parole for Prior Bank Robberies\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-76-years-prison-violently-robbing-or-attempting-rob-four-banks-chicago\",\"uuid\":\"86aa407e-7acb-414f-8e81-dfe54420e8a9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460336\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/d03\\/public\\/2026-09\\/isiah_naaquan_weeks.png?itok=PJILHC1m\\u0022 width=\\u0022300\\u0022 height=\\u0022373\\u0022 alt=\\u0022isiah_naaquan_weeks.png\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003ERALEIGH, N.C. \\u2013 A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man after three days of trial on nine counts for fentanyl and five counts for possessing a firearm stemming from his role directing a major fentanyl\\u2011trafficking operation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis thug had a long history of pushing venomous poison and despite being locked up in the past, he immediately went back to his dirty work, orchestrating a violent drug\\u2011peddling enterprise from right here in Raleigh, pumping our community full of deadly fentanyl, all while using illegal guns,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. \\u201cWorking with a collaboration of men and women from local, state, and federal law enforcement, we dismantled his operation, seized his poison and guns, and removed him off our streets. This verdict delivers a clear message: Drugs destroy lives, and prison awaits\\u2014choose the right path.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIsiah Naaquan Weeks ran a drug\\u2011trafficking operation that pushed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills from California and Arizona into Eastern North Carolina. He and his crew crisscrossed the country to grab massive loads of fentanyl, shipped those pills into Wake County, and flooded Raleigh with them. Investigators uncovered high\\u2011volume deliveries, coordinated communications, and nonstop dealing from 2022 until Weeks\\u2019 arrest in 2024. Weeks constantly carried guns to assist his drug dealing and kept selling even as his associates were arrested with thousands of pills. When an associate was caught with one hundred thousand fentanyl pills tied to him, Weeks panicked and googled \\u2018Best place to live for Americans in Mexico\\u2019 and \\u2018no extradition countries\\u2019 just days before his arrest.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cHolding a drug dealer accountable for his dangerous and careless crimes sends a powerful message to anyone that threatens our public safety,\\u201d said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. \\u201cATF and our law enforcement partners will use every resource we have available to pull the plug on violent criminal networks.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Raleigh Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the exceptional public safety partners whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment throughout this case exemplify the very best of collaboration in modern law enforcement. Alongside our officers and detectives, their teamwork, coordination, and shared expertise were instrumental in advancing this investigation and furthering our collective mission to protect and serve our community. We are especially grateful for the strong partnership between the Raleigh Police Department and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The coordination and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation reflect the shared commitment of local, state, and federal agencies to working together to uphold justice and keep our community safe.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEllis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the jury\\u2019s verdict. The ATF, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the IRS \\u2013 Criminal Investigation and Raleigh Police Department collaborated on this multi-year investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on our\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ednc\\u0022\\u003Ewebsite\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.nced.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.nced.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/ShowIndex.pl\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-200-D.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:03:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788548583\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:42:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788547333\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460336\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"dfac24ed-54ff-48c4-bae8-b54d6d10f6db\"},\"alt\":\"isiah_naaquan_weeks.png\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Raleigh Drug Ringleader Convicted at Federal Guns and Drugs Trial \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ednc\\/pr\\/raleigh-drug-ringleader-convicted-federal-guns-and-drugs-trial\",\"uuid\":\"a367cd3f-d9fa-4a5a-9cc5-a3d177554fe9\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;RACHEL CRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ea\\/k\\/a \\u201cRachel Davenport,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cRachel Monjure,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cRachel Haygood\\u201d (\\u201cCRAWFORD\\u201d),\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E age 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to\\u0026nbsp;Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to plea documents,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was\\u0026nbsp;the Chief Financial Officer of an organization that received federal funds. Beginning on or about May 14, 2021, and continuing until or about May 8, 2025,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E CRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E withdrew approximately $162,209.61 in cash from the organization\\u2019s checking account for personal use. \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E then altered bank statements to conceal her withdrawals. In addition, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E made $9,254.81 of unauthorized purchases for personal items, including airplane tickets and a cosmetic dermatologist, using the organization\\u2019s credit card. When interviewed by federal agents, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ECRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E admitted to the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E faces up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee is also applicable.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry set sentencing for December 16, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development \\u2013 Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T16:50:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788555023\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T16:33:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788554003\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;RACHEL CRAWFORD\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ea\\/k\\/a \\u201cRachel Davenport,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cRachel Monjure,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cRachel Haygood\\u201d (\\u201cCRAWFORD\\u201d),\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E age 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to\\u0026nbsp;Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Ponchatoula Woman Guilty of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/ponchatoula-woman-guilty-theft-organization-receiving-federal-funds\",\"uuid\":\"d8ce33f1-dbde-4463-bb69-f188a3539f79\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBEAUMONT, Texas \\u2013 A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoskin Love, 50, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on March 19, 2025, Love was stopped for a traffic violation.\\u0026nbsp; Officers smelled marijuana during the stop.\\u0026nbsp; A search was conducted resulting in the discovery of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety \\u2013 Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T11:05:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788534316\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:59:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788533993\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jefferson County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtx\\/pr\\/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking-violations\",\"uuid\":\"8b1f9476-714e-45cd-a6a2-fb78937c895f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\u2013 John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China \\u2013 claiming they were Honda airbags \\u2013 for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in August 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago O\\u2019Hare International Airport seized 20 counterfeit Honda airbags that were sent from China. The boxes were falsely described as containing \\u201cdesktop night lights\\u201d and were addressed to Bojorquez at JB Ohio Auto Sale in Galloway.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe same shipper in China sent four similar additional shipments of counterfeit Honda airbags in August 2024, each labeled as \\u201cdesktop night lights\\u201d or \\u201cblue desktop nightlights.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhen law enforcement executed a search warrant at JB Ohio Auto Sale in May 2025, they seized multiple counterfeit airbags, some of which were piled in a clothes hamper and covered by a towel.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBojorquez admitted to intentionally trafficking in at least 44 counterfeit airbags from August 2024 until May 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Department of Transportation\\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued consumer safety advisories to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit airbags, including consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the airbag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf you own a vehicle purchased from JB Auto Sale with a suspected counterfeit airbag, please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office by calling 888-529-2820.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:29:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788528593\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:28:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788528516\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\u2013 John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China \\u2013 claiming they were Honda airbags \\u2013 for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Galloway car dealership owner pleads guilty to importing counterfeit air bags\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdoh\\/pr\\/galloway-car-dealership-owner-pleads-guilty-importing-counterfeit-air-bags\",\"uuid\":\"dbfe9e47-a478-4ec2-8a49-7761df424bd6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EYenkin Majestic Paint Corporation operated a coatings and resin manufacturing facility in Columbus. As part of the resin manufacturing process, Yenkin would heat ingredients in large steel vessels known as \\u201ckettles.\\u201d In 2020 Yenkin decided to fabricate and install a new door, known as a \\u201cmanway\\u201d on the top of Kettle 3. Working in conjunction with a local fabrication company, Yenkin installed the new manway in December 2020. Despite several examples of Kettle 3 seeing high pressure spikes, Yenkin never pressure tested the new manway before placing it back in service. Once installed, it immediately began leaking. Nevertheless, Yenkin continued to utilize Kettle #3, opting instead to add a thicker gasket, which Yenkin erroneously believed to be made of Teflon (but was actually silicone).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 8, 2021, Yenkin was in the process of producing a resin in Kettle #3. Unbeknownst to the operator, the agitator inside Kettle 3 had stopped, likely due to electrical work Yenkin was conducting at the time. Around midnight, the operator turned the agitator back on, causing the contents to vaporize and increasing the pressure inside the kettle. Moments later, Kettle 3\\u2019s closed manway and gasket could no longer contain the pressure and began to release a mixture of hot resin liquid and flammable solvent vapor into the resin plant and then into adjacent operating areas of the plant.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMultiple flammable gas detectors inside the facility started detecting an increasing concentration of flammable vapors during the release. However, the flammable gas detectors were not configured to sound an audible alarm. At 12:04 a.m., the released flammable vapors found an ignition source and exploded, which led to the death of one employee and severe injuries to several others. The explosion also damaged the resin plant and nearby structures.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhen safety protocols aren\\u2019t followed, pressurized equipment can cause terrible accidents like the tragedy at Yenkin in 2021,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cThe company is pleading guilty to negligent endangerment, because their actions, or inactions, created a manufacturing environment that resulted in death and severe injury. Our hope in highlighting this case is that other manufacturers will vigilantly protect the safety of their workers and properly operate their equipment.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCompanies that use hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to prevent releases that put people in danger of death and serious bodily injury,\\u201d said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA\\u2019s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. \\u201cThe resulting incident caused a tragic loss of life, injuries, and property damage. EPA will continue to hold companies accountable when they put workers and the public at risk by ignoring basic safety and emergency procedures.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cEmployees deserve to be protected from danger in the workplace \\u2013 and we will hold companies accountable to that obligation,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. \\u201cThis tragic circumstance serves as a stark reminder to all manufacturers that safety requirements must be followed.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCompanies have an obligation to protect their workers,\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. \\u201cYenkin failed to keep its employees safe, and as a result, one person died and several others were injured. This guilty plea provides a measure of accountability for Yenkin\\u2019s failures.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis devastating incident underscores the serious consequences of why environmental safeguards and proper operating procedures matter,\\u201d said Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue. \\u201cOhio EPA remains committed to protecting Ohio\\u2019s communities and natural resources and holding regulated facilities accountable for meeting their environmental obligations.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Attorney General\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Special Investigations Unit, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman for ENRD and the Southern District of Ohio and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Twombly for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T12:37:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788539844\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:38:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788529129\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1019\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Ohio Company Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"9fed5344-d0fe-47b4-832e-2f95ea95a8ce\",\"name\":\"Labor \\u0026 Employment\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/ohio-company-pleads-guilty-worker-death-case-0\",\"uuid\":\"b06f532e-0d26-4ed7-8514-c7fbafc1e7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kenroy Watt, 50, a native and citizen of Jamaica, was indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Watt illegally reentered the United States without proper authorization and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on December 10, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;Watt was previously removed from the United States through Miami, Florida, on July 28, 2016, after a conviction for an aggravated felony.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:57:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788533860\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:56:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788533795\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Jamaican Citizen Charged With Illegal Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/jamaican-citizen-charged-illegal-reentry\",\"uuid\":\"a592db0c-158b-4866-bc7d-84a5df8286dc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery man has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea to possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ryan Deleon Johnson, 48, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 106 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Johnson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to Johnson\\u2019s plea agreement and other court records, on June 13, 2025, agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Johnson, who had outstanding arrest warrants dating back to December 2024. As agents approached the vehicle, Johnson fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the pursuit, Johnson ran numerous stop signs and repeatedly swerved into oncoming traffic, including driving directly towards pursuing patrol vehicles, in an effort to evade capture. Johnson eventually drove onto Interstate 65 North, where he continued driving erratically and struck a patrol vehicle. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the interstate, and came to a stop on the shoulder, where agents took him into custody.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and marijuana. During his May 11, 2026, plea hearing, Johnson admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute them and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBecause Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:23:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788528230\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:20:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788528027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Montgomery Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/montgomery-man-sentenced-federal-prison-firearm-and-drug-trafficking-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"22c5aef1-40d8-4853-88b7-c0b4b5121b7a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia is proud to share two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cProtecting children in today\\u2019s digital world requires vigilance, teamwork, and a shared commitment to their well\\u2011being,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. \\u201cBy empowering families and communities with clear, practical information, we strengthen our ability to keep every child safe online.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs technology continues to evolve, so do the risks facing our youth. These handouts provide practical guidance to help adults understand online dangers, recognize warning signs, and take proactive steps to keep children safe on smartphones, the internet, and social media platforms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWe encourage schools, community organizations, and families across West Virginia to use these resources and share them widely. By spreading this information, we strengthen our collective ability to protect children and support safe online habits.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETogether, we can help make the digital world a safer place for our most vulnerable.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThank you to all our partners for your continued commitment to child safety.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EView and download the online safety flyers here:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndwv\\/media\\/1460206\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/usao-ndwv\\/media\\/1460206\\/dl?inline\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-ndwv\\/media\\/1460211\\/dl?inline\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022media\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u0022e64f8124-85e3-420a-abc6-0793f74864cc\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022media_download_inline\\u0022 title=\\u0022Predators Are Online\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/usao-ndwv\\/media\\/1460211\\/dl?inline\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T10:15:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788876940\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b2a654da-3abd-4317-aec0-c05c193094cf\",\"name\":\"USAO - West Virginia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T08:36:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788525362\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460216\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"83023f3f-5342-436d-8135-9e939e424823\"},\"alt\":\"Online Safety Flyer\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460221\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"cfcd9531-6534-4f11-b329-5f2b7f0904ec\"},\"alt\":\"Predators are Online Flyer\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia is proud to share two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office Committed to Protecting Children in the Digital Age\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"f095f7a4-e602-4206-a249-56971083cb48\",\"name\":\"Community Outreach\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndwv\\/pr\\/us-attorneys-office-committed-protecting-children-digital-age\",\"uuid\":\"28c42d8c-026a-49b4-ab43-a61a49631f65\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Cordell Simms,\\u0026nbsp;32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced\\u0026nbsp;yesterday to\\u0026nbsp;37\\u0026nbsp;months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESimms pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2025, before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In\\u0026nbsp;addition to the\\u0026nbsp;37-month sentence, Judge Sullivan ordered Simms to serve\\u0026nbsp;three\\u0026nbsp;years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, on Sept. 10, 2025, about 4:45 p.m. a Metropolitan Police officer responded to a report of a person with a gun in their waistband near 2nd and Farragut Streets NW. The officer canvassed the neighborhood in his marked cruiser and\\u0026nbsp;observed\\u0026nbsp;a man with a backpack \\u2013 later identified as Simms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESimms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The\\u0026nbsp;child\\u0026nbsp;immediately\\u0026nbsp;began walking toward the front door of a nearby home. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack. Simms began to\\u0026nbsp;run\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;led police on a lengthy foot chase.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPolice caught and detained Simms and inspected the backpack. Inside the bag police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number that was fitted with a laser sight. The Ruger was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESimms did not have a license to carry a firearm in the\\u0026nbsp;District. A criminal history check revealed he had been convicted of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, and was therefore prohibited from\\u0026nbsp;possessing\\u0026nbsp;a firearm of any sort. At the time of his arrest in this case, Simms also was on supervised release following convictions of simple assault, second degree theft, and two counts of contempt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the MPD with valuable\\u0026nbsp;assistance\\u0026nbsp;from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\u2013 Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;George Eliopoulos\\u0026nbsp;of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460286\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/simms1.png?itok=3oglUP0P\\u0022 width=\\u0022571\\u0022 height=\\u0022560\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\u0022 title=\\u0022Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESimms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460291\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/simms2.png?itok=ktlRffXk\\u0022 width=\\u0022560\\u0022 height=\\u0022674\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Inside Simms\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\u0022 title=\\u0022Inside Simms\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EInside\\u0026nbsp;Simms\\u2019\\u0026nbsp;bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr321\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/twitter.com\\/USAO_DC\\u0022\\u003EX\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.instagram.com\\/usao_dc\\/\\u0022\\u003EInstagram\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.youtube.com\\/@usao_dc\\u0022\\u003EYouTube\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOr at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T12:21:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788538912\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T12:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788538599\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460286\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"daccc940-c06b-49c2-9e64-cf30780ce58d\"},\"alt\":\"Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\",\"title\":\"Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460291\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"4c765593-2be2-4262-b481-8f901e24b904\"},\"alt\":\"Inside Simms\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \",\"title\":\"Inside Simms\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECordell Simms,\\u0026nbsp;32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced\\u0026nbsp;yesterday to\\u0026nbsp;37\\u0026nbsp;months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/felon-sentenced-37-months-federal-prison-illegal-firearm-possession\",\"uuid\":\"fc6a3967-f210-4242-ac27-52229ba56610\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Mexican national, Carlos Erick Vazquez Gonzalez, 48, pleaded guilty today for his role in the laundering of approximately $4 million in drug trafficking proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Vazquez Gonzalez worked with \\u201cmoney brokers\\u201d who arranged for the collection of drug profits in cities throughout the United States, which he then laundered and returned through cryptocurrency to Mexico. Vazquez Gonzalez accepted the deposit of approximately $4 million of these narcotic proceeds into a cryptocurrency wallet that he controlled. Vazquez Gonzalez then quickly moved the money to conceal or obfuscate its origins. He also sold the cryptocurrency for U.S. dollars in Mexico and returned the bulk cash to the \\u201cmoney broker\\u201d who arranged the pick-up of drug proceeds in the United States. Vazquez Gonzalez received an estimated $40,000 in commission for his participation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVazquez Gonzalez pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe DEA Lexington Resident Office investigated the case, working closely with the Detroit Field Division and Rocky Mountain Field Division and assisted by DEA offices in Mexico, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Baltimore, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Portland, Columbia, and Rapid City, with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDeputy Chief Elizabeth R. Rabe of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Deputy Chief Todd Bradbury for the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMNF\\u2019s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMNF\\u2019s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is\\u0026nbsp;also\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.whitehouse.gov\\/presidential-actions\\/2025\\/01\\/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion\\/\\u0022\\u003EExecutive Order 14159\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:20:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788549652\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\",\"name\":\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:31:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788546661\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1024\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Mexican national, Carlos Erick Vazquez Gonzalez, 48, pleaded guilty today for his role in the laundering of approximately $4 million in drug trafficking proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $4M in Drug Trafficking Proceeds\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-laundering-more-19m-drug-trafficking-proceeds\",\"uuid\":\"471a4fc1-1b71-4ed2-8338-40ea2bb9c1cd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth\\u2019s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:15:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788556527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:13:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788556396\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-213\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/dillon-man-sentenced-18-months-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"5ef9ed54-dd8a-45f8-9d48-7b8b62b04140\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cConvicted felons with violent histories who are caught illegally possessing firearms will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u0022I appreciate the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring repeat offenders to justice and keep our communities safe.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Butts County Sheriff\\u0027s Office is grateful to the United States Attorney\\u0027s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, and United States Attorney William Keyes, for their partnership and commitment to prosecuting violent offenders,\\u201d said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. \\u201cThrough continued collaboration with our federal partners, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure violent criminals are held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELa\\u0027Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 3, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements in court, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff\\u2019s Office stopped Fortson\\u2019s vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy approached the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana when Fortson rolled down his window. Fortson denied the odor and advised he did not smoke marijuana. The deputy deployed a narcotics detection dog who performed a free air sniff of the vehicle. After the dog showed odor responses in two areas, the deputy advised he would be searching the vehicle. Fortson then admitted that he had marijuana in the center console. The search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana in the center console; an open tequila bottle behind the passenger seat; and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver\\u2019s seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia, and he said he purchased it from one of his \\u201cweed buddies.\\u201d Fortson admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon. Fortson has a lengthy criminal history, to include prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Butts County Sheriff\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECriminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:20:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788546030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:18:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788545885\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdga\\/pr\\/atlanta-man-criminal-past-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"6fb47c48-0f2b-44ad-b0c4-428555648781\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003E\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECHATTANOOGA, Tenn. \\u2013\\u0026nbsp; On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.\\u0026nbsp; Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 2251(a) and (e).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that\\u0026nbsp;through his Instagram account of \\u201ccandy_cams,\\u201d and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online.\\u0026nbsp; To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender.\\u0026nbsp; By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.\\u0026nbsp; Buckley\\u2019s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney\\u2019s Office made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\u0026nbsp; This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecial Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about PSC, please visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003E.\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\/resources.html\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\/resources.html\\u003C\\/a\\u003E and click the tab \\u0022resources.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T11:20:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788535230\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"3601535d-4e8a-4029-a9aa-12d40fdbfa41\",\"name\":\"USAO - Tennessee, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T06:55:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788519356\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtn\\/pr\\/chattanooga-man-sentenced-25-years-exploitation-minor\",\"uuid\":\"0dfd75c5-cf1a-47fa-9983-12667c90c25d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHOENIX, Ariz. \\u2013 During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 128 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 124 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 13 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERecent matters of interest include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Andrew Lee Esquivel.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E On August 29, 2026, Andrew Lee Esquivel was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On August 28, 2026, a Pinal County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trax on I-10. As the deputy approached the Trax, he saw the passenger lying on the floorboard of the car. The car also contained a camouflage backpack, camouflage clothing, and carpet shoes in the back seat. When the deputy returned to his vehicle, the passenger fled on foot and ran across both lanes of traffic. The passenger was located 2 hours later, several miles away from the original stop. Border Patrol agents confirmed the passenger is a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [26-MJ-6362]\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Julian Beltran-Montoya.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E On September 3, 2026, Julian Beltran-Montoya, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Beltran-Montoya had been previously removed from the United States in 2020. In 2012, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming. Beltran-Montoya was sentenced to 120 in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release in that case. [26-MJ-3322]\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EA criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERELEASE NUMBER:\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003EFor more information on the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, District of Arizona, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao\\/az\\/\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao\\/az\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EFollow the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/twitter.com\\/USAO_AZ\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E@USAO_AZ\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E for the latest news.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:47:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788551255\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d139d6e1-c7f0-481e-8385-3a94932f1a53\",\"name\":\"USAO - Arizona\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:27:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788550072\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement \",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHOENIX, Ariz. \\u2013 During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District of Arizona Charges 265 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-az\\/pr\\/district-arizona-charges-265-individuals-immigration-related-criminal-conduct-week\",\"uuid\":\"2de7da0c-4701-4400-bd7a-d77d9f26ae76\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 \\u003Cstrong\\u003EJAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u003Cstrong\\u003E(\\u201cGRZELKA\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eage 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and\\/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, beginning at an unknown time and until on or about July 31, 2025,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E received, and attempted to receive, images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGRZELKA\\u2019s\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E home was searched by state law enforcement officials and federal agents on July 31, 2025. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was arrested during the execution of the search warrant by agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, after finding him in possession of electronic devices and media containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E in federal court. \\u003Cstrong\\u003EGRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is currently being held without bail in federal custody.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; *\\u0026nbsp; *\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:25:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788557139\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T17:20:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788556851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 \\u003Cstrong\\u003EJAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u003Cstrong\\u003E(\\u201cGRZELKA\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eage 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"New Orleans Man Guilty of Receiving Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/new-orleans-man-guilty-receiving-materials-involving-sexual-exploitation-minors\",\"uuid\":\"642308f7-423f-48cc-ba0e-d75b44f76bdf\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle.\\u0026nbsp; Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESuperior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim\\u2019s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim\\u2019s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim\\u2019s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver\\u2019s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim\\u2019s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims\\u2019 belongings, and Pyne drove away.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF3 001561\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:38:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788550682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T15:35:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788550528\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/armed-robber-pleads-guilty-2023-and-2024-crime-spree\",\"uuid\":\"3abebd8d-c866-4a85-bb5f-d724153a8218\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA Brazilian national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to reentering the United States after a prior removal.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, on August 15, 2026, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Franklin County observed a car registered to an alien who had been ordered to be removed from the United States. During a subsequent roadside immigration inspection, agents determined that the car\\u2019s three occupants were, in fact, illegal aliens without lawful authority to be in the country. They were transported for processing to the Rangeley Border Patrol Station, where agents determined that \\u003Cstrong\\u003EJose Carlos Ferreira\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 50, had been ordered removed in 2005, and subsequently removed from the U.S. twice in 2010.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFerreira faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: This case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:20:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788546014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maine\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:16:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788545814\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJose Carlos Ferreira had been ordered removed in 2005, and subsequently removed from the U.S. twice in 2010.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien from Brazil Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-me\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-brazil-pleads-guilty-illegally-reentering-us-after-prior-removal\",\"uuid\":\"251a182a-aace-455a-8179-73e2cdb27dc2\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 Two Bozeman men w [...truncated 13350 characters...] Mexican national, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty today in El Paso, Texas, to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. According to court documents, Davalos-Lopez conspired with others to smuggle migrants through an underground tunnel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant demonstrated a total disregard for our nation\\u2019s laws by conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States through a tunnel that ran from Mexico under the U.S. border into Texas,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\u201cThis shows that smugglers will stop at nothing to move illegal aliens into the United States for profit. The Department of Justice is sending a clear message that those who undermine the integrity of our borders will be investigated and prosecuted.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendants in this case were key figures in a criminal enterprise that has had a heavy, detrimental impact on both sides of the border, smuggling drugs and illegal aliens into the U.S. while also trafficking firearms into Mexico, firearms which were then used to further facilitate the movement of drugs and illegal aliens into this country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. \\u201cThe convictions secured in this case are just another nail in the coffin for these transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations. With the full force of the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Alpha behind us, we will accomplish our mission of eradicating these groups and ending their reign of terror.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDavalos-Lopez and his co-conspirators thought they could exploit the United States southern border utilizing a secret tunnel which was constructed by the foreign terrorist organization, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion to facilitate their illegal activities in smuggling of humans, drugs, and firearms,\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Coult W. Markovsky of the FBI El Paso Field Office. \\u201cThe discovery of this tunnel and the subsequent convictions related to those who were part of this operation underscores the FBI\\u2019s and our partners\\u2019 never-ending commitment to dismantle trafficking by the foreign terrorist organization, CJNG.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCriminals who traffic human beings and firearms are exactly the individuals ATF works every day to stop,\\u201d said ATF Director Rob Cekada. \\u201cOur focus is squarely on violent offenders and the criminal networks that threaten public safety. If you fuel cartel violence or exploit our communities, we will find you and hold you accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s guilty plea reflects the relentless work of law enforcement to dismantle foreign terrorist organizations like CJNG,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Robert \\u201cEric\\u201d Casta\\u00f1eda of the DEA\\u2019s El Paso Division. \\u201cNo matter the concealment tactics, smuggling methods, or illicit finance networks used, DEA will track down those responsible and ensure they face justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMembers of foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, pose a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities and our nation,\\u201d said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. \\u201cExploiting vulnerable individuals for profit while facilitating movement of weapons, drugs or resources to terrorist organizations will not be tolerated. HSI will aggressively pursue those who enable these criminal networks and hold them accountable for the grave consequences of their actions. There is no place in our communities for individuals who profit from human suffering or knowingly strengthen terrorist organizations.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460311\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/davalos_lopez_image1.png?itok=-V9xZpCY\\u0022 width=\\u0022625\\u0022 height=\\u0022511\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Photo of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\u0022 title=\\u0022Photo of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EPhoto of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EIn January 2025, federal law enforcement located a sophisticated tunnel between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Intercepted phone calls between Davalos-Lopez and other individuals revealed conversations regarding the smuggling of aliens through the tunnel and included references to charging aliens upwards of $30,000 to utilize the tunnel for purposes of entering the United States unlawfully and without inspection. In several of these intercepted phone calls, Davalos-Lopez specifically referred to a tunnel that exists between Juarez and El Paso and discussed how many migrants cross through the tunnel and how much is charged to use the tunnel. Davalos-Lopez and his co-defendants were \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/mexican-national-and-alleged-alien-smuggler-indicted-first-material-support-terrorism\\u0022\\u003Eindicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in April 2025. The Government of Mexico, pursuant to its National Security Law, subsequently transferred Davalos-Lopez to the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavalos-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Davalos-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavalos-Lopez\\u2019s co-defendant, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 40, of Mexico, previously pleaded \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-mexican-nationals-plead-guilty-alien-smuggling-and-providing-material-support-designated\\u0022\\u003Eguilty\\u003C\\/a\\u003E on Aug. 27 to conspiring with others to provide material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generaci\\u00f3n (CJNG) by trafficking firearms from the United States to Mexico, for the express purpose of delivering those firearms to members of CJNG. Gustavo Castro-Medina, 29, of Mexico, also previously pleaded guilty to serving as an intermediary to facilitate the interstate and foreign transfer of $3,000 in U.S. currency via wire to an undercover agent to purchase firearms for subsequent unlawful transport.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, investigated the case. ATF legal attach\\u00e9s in Mexico City and Mexico\\u2019s Fiscal\\u00eda General de la Rep\\u00fablica Organized Crime Unit (FGR-FEMDO) provided substantial assistance. HSI\\u2019s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and CBP\\u2019s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force also provided assistance with the investigation. The Justice Department\\u2019s (DOJ) Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McDonald for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the DOJ\\u2019s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA\\u2019s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELed by the Criminal Division\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA\\u2019s work has resulted in more than 482 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and\\/or trafficking; more than 433 U.S. convictions; and more than 369 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.whitehouse.gov\\/presidential-actions\\/2025\\/01\\/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion\\/\\u0022\\u003EExecutive Order 14159\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:14:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788545652\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"48a4c599-c2d1-4070-95dd-1f211453b3ad\",\"name\":\"Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\",\"name\":\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"9cf9b5a8-4033-4fa9-9451-c39e70b0f2bc\",\"name\":\"Criminal - Office of International Affairs\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T13:52:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788544377\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1023\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Mexican national, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty today in El Paso, Texas, to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. According to court documents, Davalos-Lopez conspired with others to smuggle migrants through an underground tunnel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Using an Underground Tunnel\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"793286c3-9f64-4b36-97a7-8af5e54fcfe5\",\"name\":\"Joint Task Force Alpha\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-alien-smuggling-conspiracy-using-underground-tunnel\",\"uuid\":\"1e45b1d6-241d-4e76-b602-0f6ea6e5858c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFort Myers, Florida \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge\\u0026nbsp;Kyle Dudek to\\u0026nbsp;19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Hunter was distributing fentanyl in Moore Haven and Clewiston. Between January 6 and February 5, 2026, an undercover agent purchased a total of 139 grams of fentanyl from Hunter in Moore Haven. On March 26, 2026, the DEA executed an arrest warrant on Hunter and located an additional 81.4 grams of fentanyl in his possession.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHunter was sentenced as a career offender due to his two prior federal drug trafficking convictions. At the time of arrest, Hunter was under supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime out of the Western District of Virginia (5:14-cr-02) for which he previously served 10 years in federal prison. He also had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base out of the Middle District of Florida (5:00-cr-38) for which he served 13 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:59:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788533987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T10:58:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788533925\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFort Myers, Florida \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge\\u0026nbsp;Kyle Dudek to\\u0026nbsp;19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Clewiston Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/clewiston-career-offender-sentenced-more-19-years-federal-prison-distributing-fentanyl\",\"uuid\":\"4838c5c8-f178-4501-b2a1-74e8f561bc41\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG- The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Katya Rodriguez, 30, from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Rodriguez illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election.\\u0026nbsp;Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,\\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \\u201cIt is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes. Illegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation\\u2019s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,\\u201d said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). \\u201cThe American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 11 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:39:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788547188\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T14:36:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788546963\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788523200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien From Mexico Charged With Alien Voting\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-mexico-charged-alien-voting\",\"uuid\":\"3062a3db-87d9-4a8e-b281-37a2e0c7862c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and his wife, Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, Mexican nationals who entered the U.S. on tourist visas, were sentenced to 27 months and 10 months in custody, respectively, for\\u0026nbsp; participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently sell homes they did not own and launder approximately $1 million in proceeds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the June plea agreement, conspirators posed as legitimate property owners and used fraudulent documents to sell real estate they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. They then routed the proceeds from the illegal sales through bank accounts controlled by the defendants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is difficult to imagine a more brazen betrayal of trust than pretending to own someone else\\u2019s home and selling it for your own gain,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cReal estate fraud and money laundering schemes like this can devastate victims and undermine confidence in legitimate financial transactions,\\u201d said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. \\u201cHSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify transnational criminal networks, follow the money, and hold accountable those who exploit our financial systems for personal profit.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentencing sends a clear message: Those who engage in fraud will be held accountable,\\u201d said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. \\u201cThe defendants employed sophisticated tactics to exploit the trust of innocent real estate buyers and undermine the integrity of our financial system. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to following the money, uncovering the truth, and collaborating with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and ensure justice is served.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement, to carry out the scheme, the defendants\\u2019 co-conspirators created email addresses that closely resembled those of the legitimate property owners and used them to market properties they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. By conducting transactions entirely through email, they avoided meeting buyers in person and concealed their identities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOnce a sale was arranged, the defendants\\u2019 co-conspirators used forged property transfer documents that falsely appeared to bear the property owner\\u2019s signature, allowing ownership of the property to be fraudulently transferred to the unwitting buyer. Villalobos and Montoya admitted they opened bank accounts using business names similar to those of the legitimate property owners and used those accounts to receive the illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sales before transferring the money abroad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESpecifically, Villalobos and Montoya admitted they lied to open bank accounts to facilitate the illegal sales of homes at 3873 36th Street and 555 Hollister Street in San Diego. The plea agreement said the defendants received:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ebe2d20d0d1891c5e4694659f267011db\\u0022\\u003E$400,748 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 3873 36th Street. In April 2023, Montoya transmitted nearly the entire amount of money to bank accounts in Mexico.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e25a0fa35e6bd12d0bfffc33de0ccdc6e\\u0022\\u003E$561,463 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 555 Hollister Street. Upon receipt, Villalobos withdrew all the money by international wire transfers to accounts in Mexico and Jordan, and in cash withdrawals.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANTS\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 25-CR-4686-DMS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EVictor Hugo Villalobos Almazan\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Age: 48\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Mexico\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Age: 48\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026 [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01XcZwBmnriZ1hXsxiz58LYN, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.313

Inner payload

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tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.314

Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.315

Inner payload

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":7},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.5406069755554199},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMIAMI \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Two South Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese fraudsters billed Medicare $34.8 million for braces that patients didn\\\\u2019t need and didn\\\\u2019t request \\\\u2014 and now they\\\\u2019re paying the price,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cThey paid kickbacks for fake doctors\\\\u2019 orders, shuffled billing among several companies to dodge payment suspensions, and pocketed millions that belonged to American taxpayers. Their prison sentences make clear: if you steal from Medicare, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMedicare is not a blank check for fraudsters,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\\\\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida. \\\\u201cThese defendants built a $34.8 million scheme around medically unnecessary braces, fraudulent doctors\\\\u2019 orders, and illegal kickbacks, all to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. Today\\\\u2019s sentences reinforce a simple message: if you steal from our health care programs, we will find you, prosecute you, and hold you accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Kenneth Charles Kessler, III, 43, of Miami, and Michael Andrew Gomez, 43, of Miramar, owned and operated seven durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies based in Florida. Through these DME companies, they submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKessler and Gomez also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain fraudulent signed doctors\\\\u2019 orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor needed the braces, and then claimed payment for those braces from Medicare. Kessler and Gomez used their multiple DME companies to evade Medicare payment suspensions by shifting their fraudulent billing between their DME companies.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKessler profited more than $1.4 million, and Gomez profited more than $2.3 million from the fraudulent scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKessler was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment, and Gomez was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn May 2026, Kessler and Gomez each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\\\\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETrial Attorneys Aisha Schafer Hylton and Owen Dunn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;or at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, under case numbers 25-cr-60188.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:50:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788558633\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7134133d-a27a-4c2c-8c45-cdc1da8e9c1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:41:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788558061\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETwo South Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"South Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/south-florida-men-sentenced-prison-348m-health-care-fraud-scheme-targeting-medicare\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"92c972e4-b55f-4b21-8503-99ee99623e20\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A federal judge has sentenced a man to 76 years in prison for violently robbing or attempting to rob four banks in downtown Chicago while on supervised release for prior bank robbery convictions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJOSEPH DONELSON, JR., 68, of Chicago, committed four robberies or attempted robberies in a two-month period in 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp; Donelson struck a bank teller in the face in one of the robberies and leapt onto the counter to take money in another one.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe robberies were as follows:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8569cdf836aa28dc373dcfb99a051188\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOct. 11, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1377c465959ab968dde47299c5e0e71b\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENov. 7, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0d86ce34b9c1dabb57407d024e7d6625\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDec. 8, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 539 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Streeterville neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e63770c28ebca16cac6fa0e3c38a2d304\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDec. 19, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 100 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDonelson committed the robberies and attempted robberies while he was on court-supervised release following a period of imprisonment for robbing two other banks in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood in 2007.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460321\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/defendant_donelson_at_bank_counter.jpg?itok=W3QnwfhU\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022772\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022460\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Joseph Donelson at the teller counter during a bank robbery.\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460316\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/defendant_donelson_on_bank_counter.jpg?itok=fCL0H9w4\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022557\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022282\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Joseph Donelson jumped on the counter during a bank robbery.\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EA jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Donelson of the four robberies and attempted robberies from 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp; On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Donelson to 76 years in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe sentence was\\\\u0026nbsp;announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.\\\\u0026nbsp; Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDefendant\\\\u2019s actions terrorized multiple bank employees, causing injury to one and lasting psychological trauma to another,\\\\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin argued in the government\\\\u2019s sentencing memorandum.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cHis crimes demonstrated utter disrespect for the law, and a severe sentence is necessary as just punishment.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:12:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545566\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:07:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545241\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460316\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d7b5d865-061d-4d24-86fa-30a24b662890\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Joseph Donelson jumped on the counter during a bank robbery.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460321\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"455dc25d-336d-49b6-837c-753f2ed66594\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Joseph Donelson at the teller counter during a bank robbery.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJOSEPH DONELSON, JR. committed four robberies or attempted robberies in 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 76 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing or Attempting To Rob Four Banks in Chicago While on Parole for Prior Bank Robberies\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-76-years-prison-violently-robbing-or-attempting-rob-four-banks-chicago\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"86aa407e-7acb-414f-8e81-dfe54420e8a9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460336\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/isiah_naaquan_weeks.png?itok=PJILHC1m\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022373\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022isiah_naaquan_weeks.png\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERALEIGH, N.C. \\\\u2013 A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man after three days of trial on nine counts for fentanyl and five counts for possessing a firearm stemming from his role directing a major fentanyl\\\\u2011trafficking operation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis thug had a long history of pushing venomous poison and despite being locked up in the past, he immediately went back to his dirty work, orchestrating a violent drug\\\\u2011peddling enterprise from right here in Raleigh, pumping our community full of deadly fentanyl, all while using illegal guns,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. \\\\u201cWorking with a collaboration of men and women from local, state, and federal law enforcement, we dismantled his operation, seized his poison and guns, and removed him off our streets. This verdict delivers a clear message: Drugs destroy lives, and prison awaits\\\\u2014choose the right path.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIsiah Naaquan Weeks ran a drug\\\\u2011trafficking operation that pushed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills from California and Arizona into Eastern North Carolina. He and his crew crisscrossed the country to grab massive loads of fentanyl, shipped those pills into Wake County, and flooded Raleigh with them. Investigators uncovered high\\\\u2011volume deliveries, coordinated communications, and nonstop dealing from 2022 until Weeks\\\\u2019 arrest in 2024. Weeks constantly carried guns to assist his drug dealing and kept selling even as his associates were arrested with thousands of pills. When an associate was caught with one hundred thousand fentanyl pills tied to him, Weeks panicked and googled \\\\u2018Best place to live for Americans in Mexico\\\\u2019 and \\\\u2018no extradition countries\\\\u2019 just days before his arrest.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cHolding a drug dealer accountable for his dangerous and careless crimes sends a powerful message to anyone that threatens our public safety,\\\\u201d said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. \\\\u201cATF and our law enforcement partners will use every resource we have available to pull the plug on violent criminal networks.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Raleigh Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the exceptional public safety partners whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment throughout this case exemplify the very best of collaboration in modern law enforcement. Alongside our officers and detectives, their teamwork, coordination, and shared expertise were instrumental in advancing this investigation and furthering our collective mission to protect and serve our community. We are especially grateful for the strong partnership between the Raleigh Police Department and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The coordination and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation reflect the shared commitment of local, state, and federal agencies to working together to uphold justice and keep our community safe.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEllis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the jury\\\\u2019s verdict. The ATF, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the IRS \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation and Raleigh Police Department collaborated on this multi-year investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on our\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewebsite\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/ShowIndex.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-200-D.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:03:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788548583\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:42:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788547333\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460336\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dfac24ed-54ff-48c4-bae8-b54d6d10f6db\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"isiah_naaquan_weeks.png\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Raleigh Drug Ringleader Convicted at Federal Guns and Drugs Trial \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\/pr\\\\/raleigh-drug-ringleader-convicted-federal-guns-and-drugs-trial\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a367cd3f-d9fa-4a5a-9cc5-a3d177554fe9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;RACHEL CRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ea\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Davenport,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Monjure,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Haygood\\\\u201d (\\\\u201cCRAWFORD\\\\u201d),\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E age 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to plea documents,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was\\\\u0026nbsp;the Chief Financial Officer of an organization that received federal funds. Beginning on or about May 14, 2021, and continuing until or about May 8, 2025,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E CRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E withdrew approximately $162,209.61 in cash from the organization\\\\u2019s checking account for personal use. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E then altered bank statements to conceal her withdrawals. In addition, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E made $9,254.81 of unauthorized purchases for personal items, including airplane tickets and a cosmetic dermatologist, using the organization\\\\u2019s credit card. When interviewed by federal agents, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E admitted to the scheme.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee is also applicable.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry set sentencing for December 16, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:50:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788555023\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:33:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788554003\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;RACHEL CRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ea\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Davenport,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Monjure,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Haygood\\\\u201d (\\\\u201cCRAWFORD\\\\u201d),\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E age 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Ponchatoula Woman Guilty of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/ponchatoula-woman-guilty-theft-organization-receiving-federal-funds\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d8ce33f1-dbde-4463-bb69-f188a3539f79\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBEAUMONT, Texas \\\\u2013 A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoskin Love, 50, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on March 19, 2025, Love was stopped for a traffic violation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Officers smelled marijuana during the stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; A search was conducted resulting in the discovery of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:05:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788534316\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:59:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533993\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jefferson County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking-violations\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8b1f9476-714e-45cd-a6a2-fb78937c895f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China \\\\u2013 claiming they were Honda airbags \\\\u2013 for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in August 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago O\\\\u2019Hare International Airport seized 20 counterfeit Honda airbags that were sent from China. The boxes were falsely described as containing \\\\u201cdesktop night lights\\\\u201d and were addressed to Bojorquez at JB Ohio Auto Sale in Galloway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe same shipper in China sent four similar additional shipments of counterfeit Honda airbags in August 2024, each labeled as \\\\u201cdesktop night lights\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cblue desktop nightlights.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen law enforcement executed a search warrant at JB Ohio Auto Sale in May 2025, they seized multiple counterfeit airbags, some of which were piled in a clothes hamper and covered by a towel.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBojorquez admitted to intentionally trafficking in at least 44 counterfeit airbags from August 2024 until May 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Department of Transportation\\\\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued consumer safety advisories to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit airbags, including consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the airbag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you own a vehicle purchased from JB Auto Sale with a suspected counterfeit airbag, please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office by calling 888-529-2820.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:29:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528593\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:28:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528516\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China \\\\u2013 claiming they were Honda airbags \\\\u2013 for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Galloway car dealership owner pleads guilty to importing counterfeit air bags\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/galloway-car-dealership-owner-pleads-guilty-importing-counterfeit-air-bags\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbfe9e47-a478-4ec2-8a49-7761df424bd6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYenkin Majestic Paint Corporation operated a coatings and resin manufacturing facility in Columbus. As part of the resin manufacturing process, Yenkin would heat ingredients in large steel vessels known as \\\\u201ckettles.\\\\u201d In 2020 Yenkin decided to fabricate and install a new door, known as a \\\\u201cmanway\\\\u201d on the top of Kettle 3. Working in conjunction with a local fabrication company, Yenkin installed the new manway in December 2020. Despite several examples of Kettle 3 seeing high pressure spikes, Yenkin never pressure tested the new manway before placing it back in service. Once installed, it immediately began leaking. Nevertheless, Yenkin continued to utilize Kettle #3, opting instead to add a thicker gasket, which Yenkin erroneously believed to be made of Teflon (but was actually silicone).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 8, 2021, Yenkin was in the process of producing a resin in Kettle #3. Unbeknownst to the operator, the agitator inside Kettle 3 had stopped, likely due to electrical work Yenkin was conducting at the time. Around midnight, the operator turned the agitator back on, causing the contents to vaporize and increasing the pressure inside the kettle. Moments later, Kettle 3\\\\u2019s closed manway and gasket could no longer contain the pressure and began to release a mixture of hot resin liquid and flammable solvent vapor into the resin plant and then into adjacent operating areas of the plant.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMultiple flammable gas detectors inside the facility started detecting an increasing concentration of flammable vapors during the release. However, the flammable gas detectors were not configured to sound an audible alarm. At 12:04 a.m., the released flammable vapors found an ignition source and exploded, which led to the death of one employee and severe injuries to several others. The explosion also damaged the resin plant and nearby structures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen safety protocols aren\\\\u2019t followed, pressurized equipment can cause terrible accidents like the tragedy at Yenkin in 2021,\\\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\\\u201cThe company is pleading guilty to negligent endangerment, because their actions, or inactions, created a manufacturing environment that resulted in death and severe injury. Our hope in highlighting this case is that other manufacturers will vigilantly protect the safety of their workers and properly operate their equipment.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCompanies that use hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to prevent releases that put people in danger of death and serious bodily injury,\\\\u201d said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA\\\\u2019s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. \\\\u201cThe resulting incident caused a tragic loss of life, injuries, and property damage. EPA will continue to hold companies accountable when they put workers and the public at risk by ignoring basic safety and emergency procedures.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEmployees deserve to be protected from danger in the workplace \\\\u2013 and we will hold companies accountable to that obligation,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. \\\\u201cThis tragic circumstance serves as a stark reminder to all manufacturers that safety requirements must be followed.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCompanies have an obligation to protect their workers,\\\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. \\\\u201cYenkin failed to keep its employees safe, and as a result, one person died and several others were injured. This guilty plea provides a measure of accountability for Yenkin\\\\u2019s failures.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis devastating incident underscores the serious consequences of why environmental safeguards and proper operating procedures matter,\\\\u201d said Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue. \\\\u201cOhio EPA remains committed to protecting Ohio\\\\u2019s communities and natural resources and holding regulated facilities accountable for meeting their environmental obligations.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\\\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Special Investigations Unit, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman for ENRD and the Southern District of Ohio and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Twombly for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:37:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788539844\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:38:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788529129\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1019\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Ohio Company Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9fed5344-d0fe-47b4-832e-2f95ea95a8ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Labor \\\\u0026 Employment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/ohio-company-pleads-guilty-worker-death-case-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b06f532e-0d26-4ed7-8514-c7fbafc1e7a1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kenroy Watt, 50, a native and citizen of Jamaica, was indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Watt illegally reentered the United States without proper authorization and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on December 10, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;Watt was previously removed from the United States through Miami, Florida, on July 28, 2016, after a conviction for an aggravated felony.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:57:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533860\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:56:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533795\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jamaican Citizen Charged With Illegal Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/jamaican-citizen-charged-illegal-reentry\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a592db0c-158b-4866-bc7d-84a5df8286dc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\\\u2014 Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery man has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea to possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ryan Deleon Johnson, 48, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 106 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Johnson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Johnson\\\\u2019s plea agreement and other court records, on June 13, 2025, agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Johnson, who had outstanding arrest warrants dating back to December 2024. As agents approached the vehicle, Johnson fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the pursuit, Johnson ran numerous stop signs and repeatedly swerved into oncoming traffic, including driving directly towards pursuing patrol vehicles, in an effort to evade capture. Johnson eventually drove onto Interstate 65 North, where he continued driving erratically and struck a patrol vehicle. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the interstate, and came to a stop on the shoulder, where agents took him into custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and marijuana. During his May 11, 2026, plea hearing, Johnson admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute them and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBecause Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:23:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:20:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528027\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Montgomery Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdal\\\\/pr\\\\/montgomery-man-sentenced-federal-prison-firearm-and-drug-trafficking-offenses\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22c5aef1-40d8-4853-88b7-c0b4b5121b7a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia is proud to share two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cProtecting children in today\\\\u2019s digital world requires vigilance, teamwork, and a shared commitment to their well\\\\u2011being,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. \\\\u201cBy empowering families and communities with clear, practical information, we strengthen our ability to keep every child safe online.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs technology continues to evolve, so do the risks facing our youth. These handouts provide practical guidance to help adults understand online dangers, recognize warning signs, and take proactive steps to keep children safe on smartphones, the internet, and social media platforms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWe encourage schools, community organizations, and families across West Virginia to use these resources and share them widely. By spreading this information, we strengthen our collective ability to protect children and support safe online habits.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETogether, we can help make the digital world a safer place for our most vulnerable.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThank you to all our partners for your continued commitment to child safety.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EView and download the online safety flyers here:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460206\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460206\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460211\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\\\u0022media\\\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\\\u0022e64f8124-85e3-420a-abc6-0793f74864cc\\\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\\\u0022media_download_inline\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Predators Are Online\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460211\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:15:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788876940\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2a654da-3abd-4317-aec0-c05c193094cf\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T08:36:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788525362\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460216\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"83023f3f-5342-436d-8135-9e939e424823\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Online Safety Flyer\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460221\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cfcd9531-6534-4f11-b329-5f2b7f0904ec\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Predators are Online Flyer\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia is proud to share two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office Committed to Protecting Children in the Digital Age\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f095f7a4-e602-4206-a249-56971083cb48\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Community Outreach\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-committed-protecting-children-digital-age\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"28c42d8c-026a-49b4-ab43-a61a49631f65\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Cordell Simms,\\\\u0026nbsp;32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced\\\\u0026nbsp;yesterday to\\\\u0026nbsp;37\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESimms pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2025, before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In\\\\u0026nbsp;addition to the\\\\u0026nbsp;37-month sentence, Judge Sullivan ordered Simms to serve\\\\u0026nbsp;three\\\\u0026nbsp;years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on Sept. 10, 2025, about 4:45 p.m. a Metropolitan Police officer responded to a report of a person with a gun in their waistband near 2nd and Farragut Streets NW. The officer canvassed the neighborhood in his marked cruiser and\\\\u0026nbsp;observed\\\\u0026nbsp;a man with a backpack \\\\u2013 later identified as Simms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESimms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The\\\\u0026nbsp;child\\\\u0026nbsp;immediately\\\\u0026nbsp;began walking toward the front door of a nearby home. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack. Simms began to\\\\u0026nbsp;run\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;led police on a lengthy foot chase.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPolice caught and detained Simms and inspected the backpack. Inside the bag police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number that was fitted with a laser sight. The Ruger was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESimms did not have a license to carry a firearm in the\\\\u0026nbsp;District. A criminal history check revealed he had been convicted of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, and was therefore prohibited from\\\\u0026nbsp;possessing\\\\u0026nbsp;a firearm of any sort. At the time of his arrest in this case, Simms also was on supervised release following convictions of simple assault, second degree theft, and two counts of contempt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the MPD with valuable\\\\u0026nbsp;assistance\\\\u0026nbsp;from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\\\u2013 Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;George Eliopoulos\\\\u0026nbsp;of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460286\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/simms1.png?itok=3oglUP0P\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022571\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022560\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESimms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460291\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/simms2.png?itok=ktlRffXk\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022560\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022674\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EInside\\\\u0026nbsp;Simms\\\\u2019\\\\u0026nbsp;bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr321\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/twitter.com\\\\/USAO_DC\\\\u0022\\\\u003EX\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.instagram.com\\\\/usao_dc\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EInstagram\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/@usao_dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYouTube\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOr at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:21:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788538912\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:16:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788538599\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460286\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"daccc940-c06b-49c2-9e64-cf30780ce58d\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460291\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c765593-2be2-4262-b481-8f901e24b904\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECordell Simms,\\\\u0026nbsp;32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced\\\\u0026nbsp;yesterday to\\\\u0026nbsp;37\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-sentenced-37-months-federal-prison-illegal-firearm-possession\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fc6a3967-f210-4242-ac27-52229ba56610\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Mexican national, Carlos Erick Vazquez Gonzalez, 48, pleaded guilty today for his role in the laundering of approximately $4 million in drug trafficking proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Vazquez Gonzalez worked with \\\\u201cmoney brokers\\\\u201d who arranged for the collection of drug profits in cities throughout the United States, which he then laundered and returned through cryptocurrency to Mexico. Vazquez Gonzalez accepted the deposit of approximately $4 million of these narcotic proceeds into a cryptocurrency wallet that he controlled. Vazquez Gonzalez then quickly moved the money to conceal or obfuscate its origins. He also sold the cryptocurrency for U.S. dollars in Mexico and returned the bulk cash to the \\\\u201cmoney broker\\\\u201d who arranged the pick-up of drug proceeds in the United States. Vazquez Gonzalez received an estimated $40,000 in commission for his participation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVazquez Gonzalez pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe DEA Lexington Resident Office investigated the case, working closely with the Detroit Field Division and Rocky Mountain Field Division and assisted by DEA offices in Mexico, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Baltimore, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Portland, Columbia, and Rapid City, with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDeputy Chief Elizabeth R. Rabe of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Deputy Chief Todd Bradbury for the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMNF\\\\u2019s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMNF\\\\u2019s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is\\\\u0026nbsp;also\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.whitehouse.gov\\\\/presidential-actions\\\\/2025\\\\/01\\\\/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EExecutive Order 14159\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:20:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788549652\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:31:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546661\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1024\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Mexican national, Carlos Erick Vazquez Gonzalez, 48, pleaded guilty today for his role in the laundering of approximately $4 million in drug trafficking proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $4M in Drug Trafficking Proceeds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-laundering-more-19m-drug-trafficking-proceeds\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"471a4fc1-1b71-4ed2-8338-40ea2bb9c1cd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth\\\\u2019s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:15:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556527\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:13:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556396\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-213\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/dillon-man-sentenced-18-months-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5ef9ed54-dd8a-45f8-9d48-7b8b62b04140\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cConvicted felons with violent histories who are caught illegally possessing firearms will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u0022I appreciate the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring repeat offenders to justice and keep our communities safe.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Butts County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office is grateful to the United States Attorney\\\\u0027s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, and United States Attorney William Keyes, for their partnership and commitment to prosecuting violent offenders,\\\\u201d said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. \\\\u201cThrough continued collaboration with our federal partners, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure violent criminals are held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELa\\\\u0027Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 3, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements in court, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office stopped Fortson\\\\u2019s vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy approached the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana when Fortson rolled down his window. Fortson denied the odor and advised he did not smoke marijuana. The deputy deployed a narcotics detection dog who performed a free air sniff of the vehicle. After the dog showed odor responses in two areas, the deputy advised he would be searching the vehicle. Fortson then admitted that he had marijuana in the center console. The search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana in the center console; an open tequila bottle behind the passenger seat; and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver\\\\u2019s seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia, and he said he purchased it from one of his \\\\u201cweed buddies.\\\\u201d Fortson admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon. Fortson has a lengthy criminal history, to include prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Butts County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECriminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:20:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546030\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:18:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545885\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdga\\\\/pr\\\\/atlanta-man-criminal-past-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6fb47c48-0f2b-44ad-b0c4-428555648781\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHATTANOOGA, Tenn. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp; On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.\\\\u0026nbsp; Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 2251(a) and (e).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that\\\\u0026nbsp;through his Instagram account of \\\\u201ccandy_cams,\\\\u201d and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online.\\\\u0026nbsp; To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender.\\\\u0026nbsp; By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.\\\\u0026nbsp; Buckley\\\\u2019s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about PSC, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about internet safety education, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E and click the tab \\\\u0022resources.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:20:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788535230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3601535d-4e8a-4029-a9aa-12d40fdbfa41\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T06:55:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788519356\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtn\\\\/pr\\\\/chattanooga-man-sentenced-25-years-exploitation-minor\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0dfd75c5-cf1a-47fa-9983-12667c90c25d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHOENIX, Ariz. \\\\u2013 During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 128 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 124 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 13 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERecent matters of interest include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Andrew Lee Esquivel.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E On August 29, 2026, Andrew Lee Esquivel was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On August 28, 2026, a Pinal County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trax on I-10. As the deputy approached the Trax, he saw the passenger lying on the floorboard of the car. The car also contained a camouflage backpack, camouflage clothing, and carpet shoes in the back seat. When the deputy returned to his vehicle, the passenger fled on foot and ran across both lanes of traffic. The passenger was located 2 hours later, several miles away from the original stop. Border Patrol agents confirmed the passenger is a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [26-MJ-6362]\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Julian Beltran-Montoya.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E On September 3, 2026, Julian Beltran-Montoya, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Beltran-Montoya had been previously removed from the United States in 2020. In 2012, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming. Beltran-Montoya was sentenced to 120 in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release in that case. [26-MJ-3322]\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EA criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERELEASE NUMBER:\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFor more information on the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, District of Arizona, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/az\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/az\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EFollow the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/twitter.com\\\\/USAO_AZ\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E@USAO_AZ\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E for the latest news.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:47:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788551255\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d139d6e1-c7f0-481e-8385-3a94932f1a53\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Arizona\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:27:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550072\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement \\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHOENIX, Ariz. \\\\u2013 During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"District of Arizona Charges 265 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-az\\\\/pr\\\\/district-arizona-charges-265-individuals-immigration-related-criminal-conduct-week\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2de7da0c-4701-4400-bd7a-d77d9f26ae76\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cGRZELKA\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eage 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and\\\\/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, beginning at an unknown time and until on or about July 31, 2025,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E received, and attempted to receive, images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E home was searched by state law enforcement officials and federal agents on July 31, 2025. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was arrested during the execution of the search warrant by agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, after finding him in possession of electronic devices and media containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E in federal court. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is currently being held without bail in federal custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; *\\\\u0026nbsp; *\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:25:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788557139\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:20:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cGRZELKA\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eage 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Orleans Man Guilty of Receiving Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/new-orleans-man-guilty-receiving-materials-involving-sexual-exploitation-minors\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"642308f7-423f-48cc-ba0e-d75b44f76bdf\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESuperior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the government\\\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim\\\\u2019s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim\\\\u2019s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim\\\\u2019s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver\\\\u2019s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim\\\\u2019s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims\\\\u2019 belongings, and Pyne drove away.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E2024 CF3 001561\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:35:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550528\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-robber-pleads-guilty-2023-and-2024-crime-spree\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3abebd8d-c866-4a85-bb5f-d724153a8218\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Brazilian national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to reentering the United States after a prior removal.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on August 15, 2026, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Franklin County observed a car registered to an alien who had been ordered to be removed from the United States. During a subsequent roadside immigration inspection, agents determined that the car\\\\u2019s three occupants were, in fact, illegal aliens without lawful authority to be in the country. They were transported for processing to the Rangeley Border Patrol Station, where agents determined that \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJose Carlos Ferreira\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 50, had been ordered removed in 2005, and subsequently removed from the U.S. twice in 2010.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFerreira faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: This case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:20:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maine\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:16:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545814\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJose Carlos Ferreira had been ordered removed in 2005, and subsequently removed from the U.S. twice in 2010.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien from Brazil Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-me\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-brazil-pleads-guilty-illegally-reentering-us-after-prior-removal\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"251a182a-aace-455a-8179-73e2cdb27dc2\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 Two Bozeman men w\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n Mexican national, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty today in El Paso, Texas, to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. According to court documents, Davalos-Lopez conspired with others to smuggle migrants through an underground tunnel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant demonstrated a total disregard for our nation\\\\u2019s laws by conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States through a tunnel that ran from Mexico under the U.S. border into Texas,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\\\u201cThis shows that smugglers will stop at nothing to move illegal aliens into the United States for profit. The Department of Justice is sending a clear message that those who undermine the integrity of our borders will be investigated and prosecuted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendants in this case were key figures in a criminal enterprise that has had a heavy, detrimental impact on both sides of the border, smuggling drugs and illegal aliens into the U.S. while also trafficking firearms into Mexico, firearms which were then used to further facilitate the movement of drugs and illegal aliens into this country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. \\\\u201cThe convictions secured in this case are just another nail in the coffin for these transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations. With the full force of the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Alpha behind us, we will accomplish our mission of eradicating these groups and ending their reign of terror.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDavalos-Lopez and his co-conspirators thought they could exploit the United States southern border utilizing a secret tunnel which was constructed by the foreign terrorist organization, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion to facilitate their illegal activities in smuggling of humans, drugs, and firearms,\\\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Coult W. Markovsky of the FBI El Paso Field Office. \\\\u201cThe discovery of this tunnel and the subsequent convictions related to those who were part of this operation underscores the FBI\\\\u2019s and our partners\\\\u2019 never-ending commitment to dismantle trafficking by the foreign terrorist organization, CJNG.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCriminals who traffic human beings and firearms are exactly the individuals ATF works every day to stop,\\\\u201d said ATF Director Rob Cekada. \\\\u201cOur focus is squarely on violent offenders and the criminal networks that threaten public safety. If you fuel cartel violence or exploit our communities, we will find you and hold you accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea reflects the relentless work of law enforcement to dismantle foreign terrorist organizations like CJNG,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Robert \\\\u201cEric\\\\u201d Casta\\\\u00f1eda of the DEA\\\\u2019s El Paso Division. \\\\u201cNo matter the concealment tactics, smuggling methods, or illicit finance networks used, DEA will track down those responsible and ensure they face justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMembers of foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, pose a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities and our nation,\\\\u201d said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. \\\\u201cExploiting vulnerable individuals for profit while facilitating movement of weapons, drugs or resources to terrorist organizations will not be tolerated. HSI will aggressively pursue those who enable these criminal networks and hold them accountable for the grave consequences of their actions. There is no place in our communities for individuals who profit from human suffering or knowingly strengthen terrorist organizations.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460311\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/davalos_lopez_image1.png?itok=-V9xZpCY\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022625\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022511\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Photo of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Photo of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EPhoto of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 2025, federal law enforcement located a sophisticated tunnel between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Intercepted phone calls between Davalos-Lopez and other individuals revealed conversations regarding the smuggling of aliens through the tunnel and included references to charging aliens upwards of $30,000 to utilize the tunnel for purposes of entering the United States unlawfully and without inspection. In several of these intercepted phone calls, Davalos-Lopez specifically referred to a tunnel that exists between Juarez and El Paso and discussed how many migrants cross through the tunnel and how much is charged to use the tunnel. Davalos-Lopez and his co-defendants were \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-and-alleged-alien-smuggler-indicted-first-material-support-terrorism\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E in April 2025. The Government of Mexico, pursuant to its National Security Law, subsequently transferred Davalos-Lopez to the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavalos-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Davalos-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavalos-Lopez\\\\u2019s co-defendant, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 40, of Mexico, previously pleaded \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/two-mexican-nationals-plead-guilty-alien-smuggling-and-providing-material-support-designated\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E on Aug. 27 to conspiring with others to provide material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generaci\\\\u00f3n (CJNG) by trafficking firearms from the United States to Mexico, for the express purpose of delivering those firearms to members of CJNG. Gustavo Castro-Medina, 29, of Mexico, also previously pleaded guilty to serving as an intermediary to facilitate the interstate and foreign transfer of $3,000 in U.S. currency via wire to an undercover agent to purchase firearms for subsequent unlawful transport.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, investigated the case. ATF legal attach\\\\u00e9s in Mexico City and Mexico\\\\u2019s Fiscal\\\\u00eda General de la Rep\\\\u00fablica Organized Crime Unit (FGR-FEMDO) provided substantial assistance. HSI\\\\u2019s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and CBP\\\\u2019s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force also provided assistance with the investigation. The Justice Department\\\\u2019s (DOJ) Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McDonald for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the DOJ\\\\u2019s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA\\\\u2019s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELed by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA\\\\u2019s work has resulted in more than 482 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and\\\\/or trafficking; more than 433 U.S. convictions; and more than 369 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.whitehouse.gov\\\\/presidential-actions\\\\/2025\\\\/01\\\\/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EExecutive Order 14159\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:14:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545652\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"48a4c599-c2d1-4070-95dd-1f211453b3ad\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9cf9b5a8-4033-4fa9-9451-c39e70b0f2bc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Office of International Affairs\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T13:52:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788544377\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1023\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Mexican national, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty today in El Paso, Texas, to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. According to court documents, Davalos-Lopez conspired with others to smuggle migrants through an underground tunnel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Using an Underground Tunnel\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"793286c3-9f64-4b36-97a7-8af5e54fcfe5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Joint Task Force Alpha\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-alien-smuggling-conspiracy-using-underground-tunnel\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1e45b1d6-241d-4e76-b602-0f6ea6e5858c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFort Myers, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Kyle Dudek to\\\\u0026nbsp;19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Hunter was distributing fentanyl in Moore Haven and Clewiston. Between January 6 and February 5, 2026, an undercover agent purchased a total of 139 grams of fentanyl from Hunter in Moore Haven. On March 26, 2026, the DEA executed an arrest warrant on Hunter and located an additional 81.4 grams of fentanyl in his possession.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHunter was sentenced as a career offender due to his two prior federal drug trafficking convictions. At the time of arrest, Hunter was under supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime out of the Western District of Virginia (5:14-cr-02) for which he previously served 10 years in federal prison. He also had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base out of the Middle District of Florida (5:00-cr-38) for which he served 13 years in federal prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:59:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533987\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:58:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533925\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFort Myers, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Kyle Dudek to\\\\u0026nbsp;19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Clewiston Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/clewiston-career-offender-sentenced-more-19-years-federal-prison-distributing-fentanyl\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4838c5c8-f178-4501-b2a1-74e8f561bc41\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG- The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Katya Rodriguez, 30, from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Rodriguez illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,\\\\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \\\\u201cIt is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes. Illegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation\\\\u2019s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,\\\\u201d said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). \\\\u201cThe American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 11 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:39:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788547188\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:36:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546963\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien From Mexico Charged With Alien Voting\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-mexico-charged-alien-voting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3062a3db-87d9-4a8e-b281-37a2e0c7862c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and his wife, Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, Mexican nationals who entered the U.S. on tourist visas, were sentenced to 27 months and 10 months in custody, respectively, for\\\\u0026nbsp; participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently sell homes they did not own and launder approximately $1 million in proceeds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the June plea agreement, conspirators posed as legitimate property owners and used fraudulent documents to sell real estate they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. They then routed the proceeds from the illegal sales through bank accounts controlled by the defendants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is difficult to imagine a more brazen betrayal of trust than pretending to own someone else\\\\u2019s home and selling it for your own gain,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cReal estate fraud and money laundering schemes like this can devastate victims and undermine confidence in legitimate financial transactions,\\\\u201d said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. \\\\u201cHSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify transnational criminal networks, follow the money, and hold accountable those who exploit our financial systems for personal profit.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis sentencing sends a clear message: Those who engage in fraud will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cThe defendants employed sophisticated tactics to exploit the trust of innocent real estate buyers and undermine the integrity of our financial system. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to following the money, uncovering the truth, and collaborating with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and ensure justice is served.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement, to carry out the scheme, the defendants\\\\u2019 co-conspirators created email addresses that closely resembled those of the legitimate property owners and used them to market properties they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. By conducting transactions entirely through email, they avoided meeting buyers in person and concealed their identities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOnce a sale was arranged, the defendants\\\\u2019 co-conspirators used forged property transfer documents that falsely appeared to bear the property owner\\\\u2019s signature, allowing ownership of the property to be fraudulently transferred to the unwitting buyer. Villalobos and Montoya admitted they opened bank accounts using business names similar to those of the legitimate property owners and used those accounts to receive the illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sales before transferring the money abroad.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, Villalobos and Montoya admitted they lied to open bank accounts to facilitate the illegal sales of homes at 3873 36th Street and 555 Hollister Street in San Diego. The plea agreement said the defendants received:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebe2d20d0d1891c5e4694659f267011db\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$400,748 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 3873 36th Street. In April 2023, Montoya transmitted nearly the entire amount of money to bank accounts in Mexico.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e25a0fa35e6bd12d0bfffc33de0ccdc6e\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$561,463 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 555 Hollister Street. Upon receipt, Villalobos withdrew all the money by international wire transfers to accounts in Mexico and Jordan, and in cash withdrawals.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EDEFENDANTS\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 25-CR-4686-DMS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictor Hugo Villalobos Almazan\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 48\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Mexico\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 48\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.29758127
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01Sz6HurWGPkPARkjraagBmY

Input

{ "brief": "DOJ press releases, page 8 of 50-item pages", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0081

(no result)

Tool Result E0082

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":8},\"executionTime\":2.441795825958252},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/servicemembers\\/media\\/1460176\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Eletter\\u003C\\/a\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder Maryland\\u2019s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cRelocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cIf a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration\\u2019s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Department\\u2019s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener\\u0022\\u003Ewww.servicemembers.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EServicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\\/\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener\\u0022\\u003Elegalassistance.law.af.mil\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:50:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461402\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:52:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457937\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1016\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/servicemembers\\/media\\/1460176\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Eletter\\u003C\\/a\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"5e295118-6b91-4f95-a8d1-4044b5c2a0b2\",\"name\":\"Servicemembers Initiative\"},{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-seeks-relief-maryland-military-families-illegal-fees\",\"uuid\":\"fbb8373d-8c85-4fe2-8149-8addc7e11650\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E On September 1, 2026,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDEVON FRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003E(\\u201cFRITH\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis is the second federal conviction for carjacking the United States government has obtained from\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence presented at trial showed that on June 4, 2022, on the Westbank of New Orleans,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E brandished a firearm and stole a motor scooter. Approximately ten months later, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E brandished a weapon and stole a motor vehicle from another victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E later pleaded guilty to the second carjacking.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Ewas convicted in Count 1 for carjacking, in violation of 18\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a72119(1). At sentencing for Count 1, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Efaces up to 15 years in jail. Count 2 was using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\u00a7 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). At sentencing for Count 2, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EFRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E faces a mandatory minimum 7 years, up to life in prison, which must be run consecutive to Count 1.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Trummel and David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;***\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T21:43:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788486237\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T21:33:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788485590\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E On September 1, 2026,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDEVON FRITH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003E(\\u201cFRITH\\u201d)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Convicts Orleans Parish Man of Brandishing a Firearm During a Carjacking \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/jury-convicts-orleans-parish-man-brandishing-firearm-during-carjacking\",\"uuid\":\"6864fbf0-a3dd-41f0-a240-a1a530bb5563\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECardenas Portugal\\u2019s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal\\u2019s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF\\u0026nbsp;Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff\\u2019s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Nebraska.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:18:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788473896\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nebraska\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:15:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788473750\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Convicts Omaha Man for Distributing Methamphetamine\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ne\\/pr\\/jury-convicts-omaha-man-distributing-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"599b6f6e-ad09-40f5-853b-09c8bd9e6b3b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBILLINGS \\u2013 A Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJamie Lynn Strosky, 46, pleaded guilty in February 2026\\u0026nbsp;to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Strosky was trafficking meth in Billings as part of the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/billings-man-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-0\\u0022\\u003ERay Best drug trafficking ring\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. Fellow traffickers had identified Strosky in interviews, leading law enforcement to place surveillance on Strosky\\u2019s residence in January 2025. For a week they saw other traffickers come and go from the house. During the same time, an additional source identified Strosky as the person supplying their methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUsing a warrant, law enforcement searched Strosky\\u2019s home on Jan. 22, 2025, and found methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and a scale.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, represented by AUSA Thomas Godfrey, prosecuted the case. The DEA, EMHIDTA, Billings Police Department, and Montana DCI conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:19:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788473996\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:13:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788473610\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-232\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Billings woman sentenced to more than 10 years for trafficking meth\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/billings-woman-sentenced-more-10-years-trafficking-meth\",\"uuid\":\"029e4ece-43df-43b4-b4ac-d93db4b34972\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETOPEKA, KAN \\u2013 Two Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting. Jackpotting involves installing malware into an ATM to force it to dispense money.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Luinder Daniel Cordova-Castellano, 20, and Jheison Alexander Lara-Sira, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of bank larceny.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEach defendant was sentenced to time served, but as part of their plea agreements, they waived their ability to contest should an immigration judge issue a final order of removal in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2025, Pottawatomie County Sheriff\\u2019s deputies responded to a call about suspicious activity at a bank in Manhattan. After driving up to an ATM, a witness reported seeing a man run away from the ATM then flee in a dark colored Toyota Prius. Deputies spotted the vehicle and followed it to a business where they approached the occupants, Cordova-Castellano and Lara-Sira.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe smell of marijuana gave deputies probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside of a backpack, law enforcement found approximately $15,000 in cash. Deputies located a laptop, keyboard, cables, tools, and a wireless hotspot in the vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhile executing a search warrant on Cordova-Castellano\\u2019s cellphone, law enforcement found chat conversations in Spanish about ATMs and photos of ATMs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u2019s Criminal Division doesn\\u2019t directly take part in deportation hearings. However, when we are prosecuting non-citizens for federal criminal offenses, we are cognizant of when their conduct merits prompt removal from our country, saving the taxpayer the cost of incarceration,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \\u201cBy offering plea agreements that include restrictions on appealing removal orders, we are helping to expedite the process of extracting convicted felons from within our borders and minimizing the expense of their prison stay.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Pottawatomie County Sheriff\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:58:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788454682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kansas\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:49:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788454174\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Venezuelans convicted of jackpotting a Kansas ATM face deportation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ks\\/pr\\/venezuelans-convicted-jackpotting-kansas-atm-face-deportation\",\"uuid\":\"d62f6c78-80b6-4c5a-b02e-2a6df8950e2f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EZachary Velling, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 12, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling\\u2019s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang\\/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Hornak scheduled Velling\\u2019s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County Police Department, and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Velling.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:56:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788443791\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:54:44-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788443684\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"West Virginia Man Who Attempted to Carry Flashbang Grenade Onto Plane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/west-virginia-man-who-attempted-carry-flashbang-grenade-plane-pleads-guilty-possessing\",\"uuid\":\"db4c9469-1123-49a8-a01b-5568ea591b08\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\u0026nbsp;to\\u0026nbsp;possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart\\u2019s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI\\u2019s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:27:32-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788474452\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:23:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788474218\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-230\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/big-timber-man-sentenced-12-years-trafficking-meth\",\"uuid\":\"3a720b4e-0d1a-4aea-82c2-fc4a1ce566e6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization\\u2019s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attach\\u00e9 Office in Bogot\\u00e1 worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:53:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461605\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:52:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461529\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Leader \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/homeland-security-task-force-yields-30-year-prison-sentence-colombian-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"10622a9c-12d0-47cb-aea8-5ff1dd12c949\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECONCORD \\u2013 Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/media\\/1460166\\/dl\\u0022\\u003Eindicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).\\u0026nbsp;Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years.\\u0026nbsp; Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations.\\u0026nbsp; The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.\\u0026nbsp; In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:09:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788458971\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Hampshire\"},{\"uuid\":\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\",\"name\":\"U.S. Marshals Service\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:06:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788458799\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/pr\\/hampton-man-indicted-failing-register-sex-offender\",\"uuid\":\"9d8a2f18-3ec1-465b-956d-ba349d0f76b1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAs alleged, this group of fraudsters participated in a $57 million tax fraud scheme, filing over 100 fictitious instruments and ultimately receiving more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars from the IRS,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cThe Fraud Division will continue working vigorously to investigate and prosecute tax fraud schemes like these across the country. Fraudsters should never be allowed to rip off the United States of America.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the superseding indictment, from 2023 through 2024, Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, Monika Skinger of Chicago, Illinois, Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Saule Moshkanova of Roseville, California, Tiffany Nichols of Suwanee, Georgia, and Stacey Rice of Manteca, California, along with unindicted conspirators, allegedly conspired to commit wire fraud by assisting one another in fraudulently claiming refunds in amounts totaling more than $57 million by preparing and submitting false individual and trust tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. The conspirators allegedly received more than $8 million from the IRS. Moshkanova, Nichols, and Rice were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAndrea and Kent Shannon, Skinger and Chandler were previously \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/idaho-husband-and-wife-and-three-others-charged-conspiracy-commit-wire-fraud-and-related\\u0022\\u003Echarged\\u003C\\/a\\u003E with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea and Kent Shannon were also charged with committing multiple acts of wire fraud, making false claims to the United States and engaging in money laundering by purchasing personal property such as luxury cars with their fraudulently obtained refunds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, the conspirators face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Andrea and Kent Shannon face an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each false claim charge. Kent Shannon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T12:37:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788539851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"82adcbda-83a7-4aee-8a37-9f205426bb18\",\"name\":\"USAO - Idaho\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T15:10:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788462617\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1018\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"704d175e-07cd-47bf-b003-8f899dbd5426\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERALEIGH, N.C. \\u2013 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina took part in its first H.O.P.E. outreach event in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle took the recommendation of the dedicated victim\\u2019s advocates to update the H.E.A.T. program to the \\u003Cstrong\\u003EH\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eealing \\u003Cstrong\\u003EO\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epioid \\u003Cstrong\\u003EP\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Erevention \\u003Cstrong\\u003EE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Education (H.O.P.E.) program. H.O.P.E. focuses on reducing the harm heroin and opiate abuse inflicted on North Carolina families by increasing community awareness of the epidemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460126\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/hope_evenrt.jpg?itok=6VsZjJ1K\\u0022 width=\\u0022205\\u0022 height=\\u0022273\\u0022 alt=\\u0022hope_evenrt.jpg\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the event, staff from the Eastern District actively engaged with the public to explain how heroin and opiate abuse continue to harm North Carolina families and communities. They spoke with attendees about the severity of the epidemic, shared firsthand knowledge from their work across the district, and emphasized the importance of community awareness and prevention. In addition to these conversations, staff members distributed valuable resources, connected individuals with supportive services, and offered guidance to those seeking help for themselves or loved ones. Their efforts ensured that community members left the event better informed, better equipped, and more empowered to confront the challenges posed by opioid abuse.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office remains committed to supporting families and communities affected by opioids and individuals seeking treatment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information or assistance with the H.O.P.E. Program, please contact our office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T11:24:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788449068\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T11:12:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788448325\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460126\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"99b74c0f-bb31-4699-8689-1027dbaff76b\"},\"alt\":\"hope_evenrt.jpg\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office Participates in its First H.O.P.E. Event\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ednc\\/pr\\/us-attorneys-office-participates-its-first-hope-event\",\"uuid\":\"5da4fc7c-baed-4880-bfb3-5c5bc4a91bf4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDALLAS \\u2014 The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office\\u2019s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative\\u2014bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as \\u201ca championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis hiring surge has stretched across the entire district, with prosecutors added in Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock and Wichita Falls, strengthening federal enforcement capacity in every corner of the Northern District of Texas. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment: the Dallas\\u2013Fort Worth metroplex is on pace to soon become the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, reflecting rapid population growth, increased economic activity and the corresponding rise in complex criminal threats.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWhen I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Raybould. \\u201cWe set out to hire the best of the best\\u2014no matter where they were, no matter their background, no matter the competition\\u2014and bring them to North Texas to serve the public. Like a general manager building a professional sports franchise, we sought out top talent with proven grit, skill, and integrity. Today, that vision has become reality.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe surge of new prosecutors reflects a strategic effort to strengthen all aspects of federal enforcement, from violent crime and drug trafficking to financial fraud and corporate misconduct, cyber intrusion, national security threats, civil enforcement, and appellate advocacy.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe office has drawn from a deep talent pool, recruiting experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, trial attorneys with complex litigation backgrounds, subject matter experts, and lawyers from the country\\u2019s leading private law firms. The new prosecutors are graduates of leading law schools across the country including the University of Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Pepperdine, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Tulane, Texas A\\u0026amp;M, Case Western Reserve, Loyola Chicago, George Washington University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and other nationally recognized institutions. Several are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of these hires relocated to Dallas specifically for the opportunity to serve in the Northern District of Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cNorth Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,\\u201d the U.S. Attorney continued. \\u201cTo meet those challenges, we invested aggressively in people, the most important asset any office has. The attorneys joining our ranks bring exceptional courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to justice. Together, we are elevating the strength and capacity of this office so that we can protect the almost 9 million folks in North Texas.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:43:20-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457400\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:41:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457276\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office\\u2019s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative\\u2014bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as \\u201ca championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas surpasses 100 prosecutors, marking historic staffing milestone\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/us-attorneys-office-northern-district-texas-surpasses-100-prosecutors-marking-historic\",\"uuid\":\"3f34467f-3fab-4e98-8c1e-1ca071aa2e15\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS.\\u0026nbsp;The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi\\u2019s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi,\\u0026nbsp;either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTax fraud isn\\u2019t just a numbers game\\u2014it\\u2019s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,\\u201d said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. \\u201cThis sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:06:12-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440772\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440658\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, FL \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/tampa-man-sentenced-46-months-federal-prison-and-ordered-pay-over-700000-internal\",\"uuid\":\"cf777ea7-8b90-4b2a-8bf1-46828e0572e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOcala, Florida \\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (\\u201cFCC Coleman\\u201d) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440644\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T09:02:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788440553\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOcala, Florida \\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate Husband\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/polk-county-woman-admits-smuggling-methamphetamine-federal-prison-her-inmate-husband\",\"uuid\":\"5d061465-a95f-4df6-8df2-3adf99ef9e39\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMADISON, WIS. \\u2013 Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Stanley Pophal, 65, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 8 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Pophal pleaded guilty to the charges on April 20, 2026. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14.25 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal, using the business name Bright with Silver, Inc., offered investment opportunities; including cryptocurrency, real estate flipping, artificial intelligence technology, gold, silver, and emeralds. Pophal convinced most investors to sign investment contracts, which he styled as promissory notes. The promissory notes guaranteed investors a rate of return of at least 20%. Pophal told investors that he was able to secure high rates of return because he had connections in the finance, commodities, and real estate sectors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPophal also repeatedly told investors that even if his investments on their behalf were not successful, their investment principal was never at risk because he had enough personal wealth to repay each investor\\u0027s principal. He told investors that he had accumulated his wealth through past business and investment success. In fact, Pophal\\u2019s claims of past business success were exaggerated, and his claims of vast personal wealth were false. Pophal never had sufficient funds to personally guarantee each investor\\u2019s principal.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPophal used the vast majority of money he received from investors to pay his personal and business expenses, fund personal travel, pay his mortgage, rent a private plane, and purchase snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles including a yellow Ferrari.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo further the fraud scheme, Pophal made \\u201cPonzi\\u201d payments to early victims, falsely representing the payments to be investment returns or interest, when in truth the payments were comprised of funds from new investors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the sentencing, many victims spoke, sharing the impact that Pophal\\u2019s crimes had on them. Stressing that life savings and retirement funds were lost, Judge Conley noted that no prison sentence could fully account for the horror of Pophal\\u2019s conduct because Pophal preyed upon vulnerable individuals who trusted him. Judge Conley also found that the victims were still grieving over the loss of their hard-earned funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized more than 600 items Pophal purchased or funded with investor funds. The items included hundreds of snowmobiles, which Pophal stored in a rented warehouse. Two photos from that warehouse are below. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Pophal agreed to forfeit these items.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPophal\\u2019s actions were not just financial crimes; they were deliberate acts of greed. He preyed on investors who trusted him, draining their life savings and shattering their security. Yesterday\\u2019s sentence makes clear that exploiting people for personal gain will be met with firm and unambiguous justice. The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office will continue to stand up for victims whose voices were stolen by fraudsters like him.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPophal took the trust his investors placed in him and turned it into a payday for himself, using deceit to steal more than $14 million and live high on other people\\u2019s money,\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\u201cOur special agents used their forensic accounting expertise to pull apart his Ponzi scheme, dollar by dollar. There\\u2019s no clever way to dress up stealing, and if you build your fortune by cheating others, don\\u2019t be surprised when the numbers lead us straight to your door.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cStanley Pophal victimized 190 hardworking people out of their money through an investment scam in which he lied to would-be investors. Instead of growing wealth for the victims, he spent their money to fund his own personal lavish lifestyle which included purchasing hundreds of snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles. His deceit led to victim losses of over $14 million,\\u201d said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. \\u201cThe FBI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable for their actions. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to steal from hardworking people for their own personal greed.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges against Pophal are a result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI with assistance from The Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau, the Allamakee Sheriff\\u0027s Office, and the Winneshiek Sheriff\\u0027s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-08T12:00:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788883248\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\",\"name\":\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T19:08:20-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788476900\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Wausau Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdwi\\/pr\\/wausau-man-sentenced-8-years-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering\",\"uuid\":\"310c8a32-507f-4879-b582-27f77d0864b1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWade was previously convicted in 2011 on federal charges of possession of child pornography and was on supervised release for those offenses when he committed these newest offenses. On April 11, 2024, probation officers searched Wade\\u2019s residence, seizing multiple unmonitored devices, including four laptops and a hard drive, suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. An initial review recovered multiple videos of suspected child pornography on the seized hard drive, which was found hidden under some clothes in a laundry bin. A subsequent examination recovered over 40,000 images and videos of child pornography on the hard drive. Investigators also located the web browser Tore on the hard drive. Tore is frequently used by individuals in possession of child pornography to receive and distribute child pornography from the internet.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Melissa M. Marangola. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T19:04:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788476654\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T19:02:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788476551\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal jury convicts prior felon on new child pornography charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/federal-jury-convicts-prior-felon-new-child-pornography-charges\",\"uuid\":\"0d45f0ea-0e4b-4094-be00-31983cfb9d3c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis pair of repeat offenders has demonstrated an outright refusal to lead law-abiding lives, and the only way we can guarantee the safety of our community is by ensuring they are kept off our streets and behind federal bars where they belong. My office will continue to back up the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions like this to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on January 14, 2026, federal agents executed an arrest warrant on Perry at a hotel in Pensacola, Florida. When law enforcement made entry into Perry\\u2019s hotel room to effectuate the arrest, they observed drug paraphernalia littered throughout the room, along with a \\u201cspeed loader\\u201d tool to quickly load ammunition into firearm magazines. Bassolino, another occupant of the hotel room, admitted that narcotics were present and gave consent to search the room. During their search, law enforcement discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded firearm. Both Bassolino and Perry are convicted felons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, with Perry most recently being convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl in July 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDue to a prior serious drug felony conviction, Perry faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count. Perry also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence given in this case, for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count and up to 15 years\\u2019 imprisonment on the possession by a convicted felon count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBassolino faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of forty years\\u2019 imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBassolino and Perry are scheduled for sentencing on November 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm respectively, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:36:15-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788453375\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T12:34:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788453288\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Guilty Pleas Entered for Pensacola-Area Gun \\u0026amp; Drug Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/guilty-pleas-entered-pensacola-area-gun-drug-crimes\",\"uuid\":\"b2f91ad0-857c-49d2-be89-b24bc3e2dd1d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with\\u0026nbsp;the FBI\\u2019s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Vincent Valdivieso, 22, exchanged text messages with an 11-year-old victim in which he lied about his own age, repeatedly requested sexually explicit photographs, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting with the victim.\\u0026nbsp; Over FaceTime and at Valdivieso\\u2019s direction, the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct while Valdivieso masturbated.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EValdivieso is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography and attempting to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2251(a) and (e); attempted receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u00a7 2252(a)(2) and (b); and transfer of obscene material to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1470.\\u0026nbsp; If convicted, Valdivieso faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;The FBI\\u2019s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Street Task Force and Delaware State Police investigated the case.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI launched \\u201cSummer Heat\\u201d for the second year in a row, targeting violent crime on a nationwide scale. It launched this multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside federal, state, and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, the FBI seeks to aggressively restore safety in communities across the country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-442.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:35:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788460505\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Delaware\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:18:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788445088\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with\\u0026nbsp;the FBI\\u2019s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Wilmington Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges Involving an 11-Year-Old\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\/pr\\/wilmington-man-arrested-child-pornography-charges-involving-11-year-old\",\"uuid\":\"280ad19b-fbee-47d6-b5a6-b068730eabad\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMISSOULA \\u2013 An Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManuel Flores, 72, pleaded guilty in February 2026\\u0026nbsp;to\\u0026nbsp;attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Flores tried to coerce a 15-year-old Montana girl into a sexual relationship while she was living in his house in Arizona and after she returned home. The girl was the daughter of a family friend; Flores had known her for several years. In June 2024, he arranged for the girl to travel from Montana to his home in Arizona to spend the summer.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhile in his home, Flores texted the girl regarding his sexual interest in her. The girl rejected Flores\\u2019 advances and returned to Montana at the end of the summer. However, Flores continued to text the girl, with many of these messages repeating and furthering the sexual advances he had sent over the summer. At times, he encouraged the girl to return to Arizona so that they could be together romantically.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe girl told her mother about Flores\\u2019s behavior and the mom contacted law enforcement. Agents took over the girl\\u2019s account and posed as the girl in further communication with Flores, who continued to message. In a string of texts, Flores requested in graphic detail nude photos of the girl and told her he would fly to Montana and not return to Arizona until he had her with him. Flores flew to Montana on Aug. 18, 2025, and was arrested by law enforcement when he landed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:45:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788475519\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:39:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788475151\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-233\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Arizona man sentenced to a decade in prison after he attempted to coerce a teenage girl into sex\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/arizona-man-sentenced-decade-prison-after-he-attempted-coerce-teenage-girl-sex\",\"uuid\":\"d3ce707c-6375-4e1c-b00d-e6e3733683fd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDEL RIO, Texas \\u2013 A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Estin Cole West, 25, operated a Google account that had been identified as saving 81 videos and images of suspected child sexual abuse material in November 2023 when he was living in Laredo. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed the Google account, IP address, and two associated email addresses all belonged to West.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI agents also learned that West was employed by the Texas National Guard and had recently been stationed at a military installation in Del Rio. During an interview with West, agents located multiple videos depicting CSAM in a locked folder within West\\u2019s phone, as well as a Telegram application that also contained several batches of CSAM. A forensic analysis of West\\u2019s phone returned 512 images and 726 videos depicting child pornography, including images of bestiality and prepubescent children.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWest was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EICE HSI investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T11:58:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788451094\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T11:56:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788450993\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEstin Cole West was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Texas National Guardsman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtx\\/pr\\/texas-national-guardsman-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possessing-child\",\"uuid\":\"547ce5a7-946e-457b-9176-3720b7762dee\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn January 1974, Ridgeway began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), based upon his representation that he is disabled and does not own countable resources exceeding $2,000 in value. In January 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on Langmeyer Avenue in Buffalo, jointly with his wife. The value of the property at the time exceeded $2,000, which made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until March 2017.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESubsequently, in October 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on LaSalle Avenue in Buffalo, using the identity of J.J.R. The value of the property at time of purchase exceeded $2,000, which again made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until September 2011. In February 2005, Ridgeway purchased two properties on Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, the value of which exceeded $2,000. He owned the properties until October 2020, once again making him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. In May 2010, Ridgeway purchased a property on Marigold Street in Buffalo, using the identity of his deceased mother. Once again, the value of the property exceeded $2,000. He owned the property until October 2023.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERidgeway failed to disclose ownership of any of these the properties to the SSA, with the intent to continue fraudulently collecting SSI payments. In June 2021, Ridgeway completed an SSI redetermination with the SSA. On the redetermination form, he stated that he did not own any property and signed it under the following statement: \\u201cI understand that anyone who knowingly lies or misrepresents the truth or arranges for someone to knowingly lie or misrepresent the truth is committing a crime which can be punished under Federal law, State law, or both. Everything on this document is the truth as best I know it.\\u201d The SSA determined that Ridgeway\\u2019s concealment of his resources resulted in an SSI overpayment of $179,276 between February 2004, and October 2023.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is of the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, Boston New York Field Division, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:56:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788476207\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T18:50:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788475802\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Buffalo man going to prison for defrauding SSA out of tens of thousands of dollars\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/buffalo-man-going-prison-defrauding-ssa-out-tens-thousands-dollars\",\"uuid\":\"dde16372-8bca-4156-b83b-f489deea1155\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\u2013 Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, three men engaged in distribution of methamphetamine across the Quad Cities area. The men were responsible for providing approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution in the Quad Cities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 17, 2026, Jacob Daniel Sheley, 27, of Clinton, also known as \\u201cChili,\\u201d was sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During a February 2025 search warrant at Sheley\\u2019s Clinton residence, law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded firearm, and more than $6000 in drug proceeds. In 2020, Sheley was convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in the Iowa District Court for Clinton County.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 16, 2026, Jacob Daniel Timmsen, 35, of Durant, was sentenced to 284 months, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Timmsen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, Cody Scott Sheese, 27, of Davenport, also known as \\u201cCody Tuttle\\u201d and \\u201cNugget,\\u201d was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheese pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sheese was on supervised release at the time of this offense. Sheese\\u2019s supervised release was revoked and was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to run consecutive to the 20-year prison term.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Muscatine County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e9e9329b8913137c546261feecdec6eab\\u0022\\u003Erapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec7f3c03ee0afe8320337b6972c5bb424\\u0022\\u003Estrong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e47379f5e99812736859a6184dd621b4b\\u0022\\u003Eaccountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSN.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:31:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788456681\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:27:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788456455\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\u2013 Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Iowa Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdia\\/pr\\/iowa-men-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-and-gun-charges\",\"uuid\":\"41538d76-869e-4431-9ba8-7b8134b9e41a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\u2013 Dominican authorities extradited Fidel Antonio Knight-Cerda to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced H\\u00e9ctor Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant was arrested in the Dominican Republic on July 8, 2026, and extradited to Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis extradition is another important step towards the total elimination of international drug cartels and demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners, and the cooperation of the Dominican authorities, to work together to bring international drug traffickers to justice,\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney Ram\\u00edrez-Carb\\u00f3. \\u201cWe will continue to maximize our multi-agency efforts to disrupt and dismantle international drug cartels that poison our streets and communities with dangerous drugs by smuggling these into Puerto Rico and the continental United States.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s action underscores the FBI\\u2019s unwavering commitment to pursuing transnational criminal actors wherever they operate. Working alongside our partners, we will continue to dismantle networks that threaten the safety and stability of our communities,\\u201d said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s San Juan Field Office. \\u201cThis extradition demonstrates that no distance, no alliance, and no criminal [...truncated 13350 characters...] ud and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on investors for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe sheer magnitude of this investment fraud and the financial harm it caused to hundreds of innocent victims underscores the seriousness of abuse to our financial systems,\\u201d said IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. \\u201cPerkins\\u2019 lengthy prison sentence and massive restitution order reflects the gravity of the defendant\\u2019s actions and makes clear that when someone lies about performance, conceals losses, and siphons off other people\\u2019s money for themselves, IRS CI will uncover the truth.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Utah Division of Securities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton, Joseph Hood, and Travis K. Elder of The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T15:23:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788463403\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e6b05612-a636-4a2b-80bd-dffad09c4d08\",\"name\":\"USAO - Utah\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:13:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788455613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"Release No. 26-92\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EST. GEORGE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, Utah \\u2013 A Southern Utah man was sentenced to 180 months\\u2019 imprisonment after he posed as a \\u2018savant\\u2019 stock trader, obtaining at least $89 million from approximately 200 investors. The majority of the funds were either lost in day trading or misappropriated, resulting in an outstanding victim loss of at least $77 million, which he concealed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Washington County Man Sentenced to 15 Years\\u2019 Imprisonment for Wire Fraud \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ut\\/pr\\/washington-county-man-sentenced-15-years-imprisonment-wire-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"1f439b0b-379a-451d-a3eb-49698e3b481e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDevonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Skinner to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to admissions made as part of his guilty plea,\\u0026nbsp;on February 21, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security \\u2013 Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase of 3,792 pills pressed to resemble 30 mg oxycodone and containing 539.2 grams of fentanyl\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Efrom Skinner and another individual using a confidential source (CS). The CS met Skinner in a restaurant parking lot on O\\u2019Neal Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Skinner was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle and exchanged the pills and money with the CS.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security \\u2013 Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Livingston Parish Sheriff\\u2019s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese led the prosecution.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cI am very pleased with the dedicated work of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Wall. \\u201cFentanyl continues to pose a grave threat to communities throughout Louisiana and distributing this substance in such quantities risks devastating harm.\\u0026nbsp; The Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account the criminal act and the defendant\\u2019s prior criminal history, called for a sentencing range of 262 to 327 months. Although we respect the Court\\u2019s role in sentencing, we have concerns that a sentence far below the guidelines range sends a harmful message. Unfortunately, our district has experienced hundreds of fentanyl overdoses over the past few years. Recently, we are beginning to see a reduction in those numbers, which gives us some optimism that the message of the dangerousness of fentanyl is finally gaining traction. The defendant\\u2019s conduct has to be viewed in the same light as if he had fired 3,972 rounds of ammunition on our public streets.\\u0026nbsp; A 92-month sentence is insufficient, and our office is reviewing the judgment closely and considering all options, including appeal.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFentanyl traffickers endanger our communities with every pill they put on the street,\\u201d said HSI New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. \\u201cThis\\u0026nbsp;investigation and conviction reflect\\u0026nbsp;HSI\\u2019s\\u0026nbsp;continued\\u0026nbsp;commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who distribute deadly narcotics in Louisiana. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue using every lawful tool available to disrupt criminal networks and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Coast Guard, Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol (CBP BP) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u0027s Office for Middle District of Louisiana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:12:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788444772\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T08:48:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788439687\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDevonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS APPEAL OF SENTENCE OF ALBANY MAN SENTENCED TO 92 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING NEARLY 4,000 FENTANYL PILLS\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdla\\/pr\\/government-considers-appeal-sentence-albany-man-sentenced-92-months-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"5d97ff93-6133-4219-b362-b64002becfdb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EGREAT FALLS \\u2013 A Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELeonard Allen Parisian, 63, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\u0026nbsp;to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Parisian was part of a group trafficking fentanyl on the Rocky Boy\\u2019s Indian Reservation between 2023 and 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaw enforcement first learned of Parisian\\u2019s involvement with the group in spring 2024. An informant told officers that starting in 2020 he supplied fentanyl pills to Parisian\\u2019s son, \\u201cLittle Al.\\u201d When Little Al was sent to prison in 2023, the informant began supplying pills to Parisian, known as \\u201cBig Al,\\u201d who purchased between 3,000 and 6,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Big Al regularly sent couriers out of state to pick up the fentanyl from the informant. In all, the informant estimated that Big Al purchased between 15,000 and 20,000 fentanyl pills for redistribution in Montana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:43:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788446615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T10:35:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788446151\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-227\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Box Elder man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl on Rocky Boy\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/box-elder-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-trafficking-fentanyl-rocky-boy\",\"uuid\":\"61b7eb35-6768-423e-99a3-a2f0f5f012e4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERICHMOND, Va. \\u2013 A Richmond man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court documents, on May 22, 2025, Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, used a dating app to contact another user who purportedly was the father of a nine-year-old son, but in actuality was an undercover agent with the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Sprinkle immediately invited the user to communicate via the Telegram app. After alluding to a sexual interest in minors, Sprinkle sent a video depicting two adults sexually abusing a minor. Sprinkle then expressed his interest in travelling to Washington, D.C., to meet the other user and sexually abuse his purported nine-year-old son.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOn Oct. 16, 2025, FBI agents searched Sprinkle\\u2019s residence in Richmond and seized two laptop computers and a cellphone. Sprinkle\\u2019s cellphone contained 43 CSAM files and one of the laptops contained two additional files. The files included depictions of the abuse of toddler-aged children.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Hubbard Theisen and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-2.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:39:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457159\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T13:38:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788457134\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERandon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, of Richmond, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Richmond man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edva\\/pr\\/richmond-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-distributing-child-sexual-abuse-material\",\"uuid\":\"d30db26f-433a-42f3-b4f2-ca51aeb7ee10\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment, returned on September 2, 2026, includes two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from alleged conduct in 2011 and a charge of possession of child pornography. These charges are in addition to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and falsely presenting as a federal employee, which were initially charged by federal criminal complaint following Cassidy\\u2019s arrest on federal charges in August.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the federal criminal complaint previously filed in the matter, Cassidy allegedly used his position as a teacher and athletics coach to develop a relationship with a minor student and falsely represented himself as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also used multiple online platforms\\u2014email, messaging services, and encrypted accounts\\u2014to communicate with the minor under various fictitious identities. Cassidy allegedly directed the minor to engage in acts, including taking partially nude photographs of herself, claiming they were part of an FBI \\u201ctraining program.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u003Cem\\u003E\\u201cChildren should never have to fear the adults entrusted with their safety and education. The allegations in this indictment are abhorrent and represent a profound betrayal of that trust,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. \\u201cWe will relentlessly pursue those who prey upon children and use every available resource to hold them accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cCassidy stands accused of a litany of crimes against children who were entrusted to his care. This is every parent\\u2019s nightmare \\u2013 a trusted coach, teacher, and trainer allegedly using his trust and access to children to manipulate and eventually exploit kids,\\u201d said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. \\u201cThis case came to HSI\\u2019s attention through a tip from a vigilant parent through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners. HSI works around the clock with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes against children, but we can only do this work with the help of the parents, friends, teachers, and members of the public who are ready to come forward when they see something they know is wrong.\\u201d\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment further alleges that Cassidy sexually exploited a minor on two occasions in 2011 for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Cassidy is also charged with knowingly possessing or accessing, with intent to view, child pornography through approximately June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECassidy is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECoercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each count of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of thirty years. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, and falsely presenting as a federal employee carries a maximum sentence of three years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECassidy was previously arrested on June 1 and July 17, 2026, on related Rhode Island state charges. The federal investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to review evidence and evaluate reports of Cassidy\\u2019s contacts with additional minors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise Barton.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement partners.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T13:54:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788544447\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T13:15:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788542153\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-90\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Barrington Christian Academy Teacher Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation Charges\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ri\\/pr\\/former-barrington-christian-academy-teacher-indicted-federal-child-exploitation-charges\",\"uuid\":\"19f181b6-64d9-4f3a-9d4c-7d24a28d3a2a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\u2013 A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESeals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:51:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461518\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-03T14:44:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788461087\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788436800\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EVerndale Ray Seals was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtx\\/pr\\/judge-deals-30-year-federal-sentence-texas-felon-who-trafficked-fentanyl-state-prison\",\"uuid\":\"505bc82b-9374-4e8e-bc2e-c9620d8f9b47\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGREENSBORO \\u2013 A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior\\/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOfficers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk\\u2019s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk\\u2019s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\u2019s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was dri [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01Sz6HurWGPkPARkjraagBmY, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.316

Inner payload

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Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.318

Inner payload

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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":8},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.441795825958252},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder Maryland\\\\u2019s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRelocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cIf a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration\\\\u2019s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Department\\\\u2019s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.servicemembers.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EServicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Elegalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:50:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461402\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:52:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457937\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1016\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5e295118-6b91-4f95-a8d1-4044b5c2a0b2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Servicemembers Initiative\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-seeks-relief-maryland-military-families-illegal-fees\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fbb8373d-8c85-4fe2-8149-8addc7e11650\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E On September 1, 2026,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDEVON FRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cFRITH\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis is the second federal conviction for carjacking the United States government has obtained from\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence presented at trial showed that on June 4, 2022, on the Westbank of New Orleans,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E brandished a firearm and stole a motor scooter. Approximately ten months later, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E brandished a weapon and stole a motor vehicle from another victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E later pleaded guilty to the second carjacking.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Ewas convicted in Count 1 for carjacking, in violation of 18\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a72119(1). At sentencing for Count 1, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efaces up to 15 years in jail. Count 2 was using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). At sentencing for Count 2, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces a mandatory minimum 7 years, up to life in prison, which must be run consecutive to Count 1.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Trummel and David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;***\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T21:43:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788486237\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T21:33:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788485590\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E On September 1, 2026,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDEVON FRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cFRITH\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jury Convicts Orleans Parish Man of Brandishing a Firearm During a Carjacking \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-convicts-orleans-parish-man-brandishing-firearm-during-carjacking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6864fbf0-a3dd-41f0-a240-a1a530bb5563\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECardenas Portugal\\\\u2019s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal\\\\u2019s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\\\u0026nbsp;HSTF\\\\u0026nbsp;Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:18:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473896\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nebraska\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:15:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473750\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jury Convicts Omaha Man for Distributing Methamphetamine\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ne\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-convicts-omaha-man-distributing-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"599b6f6e-ad09-40f5-853b-09c8bd9e6b3b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBILLINGS \\\\u2013 A Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJamie Lynn Strosky, 46, pleaded guilty in February 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Strosky was trafficking meth in Billings as part of the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/billings-man-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-0\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERay Best drug trafficking ring\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. Fellow traffickers had identified Strosky in interviews, leading law enforcement to place surveillance on Strosky\\\\u2019s residence in January 2025. For a week they saw other traffickers come and go from the house. During the same time, an additional source identified Strosky as the person supplying their methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUsing a warrant, law enforcement searched Strosky\\\\u2019s home on Jan. 22, 2025, and found methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and a scale.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, represented by AUSA Thomas Godfrey, prosecuted the case. The DEA, EMHIDTA, Billings Police Department, and Montana DCI conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:19:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473996\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:13:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473610\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-232\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Billings woman sentenced to more than 10 years for trafficking meth\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/billings-woman-sentenced-more-10-years-trafficking-meth\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"029e4ece-43df-43b4-b4ac-d93db4b34972\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOPEKA, KAN \\\\u2013 Two Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting. Jackpotting involves installing malware into an ATM to force it to dispense money.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Luinder Daniel Cordova-Castellano, 20, and Jheison Alexander Lara-Sira, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of bank larceny.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEach defendant was sentenced to time served, but as part of their plea agreements, they waived their ability to contest should an immigration judge issue a final order of removal in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn December 2025, Pottawatomie County Sheriff\\\\u2019s deputies responded to a call about suspicious activity at a bank in Manhattan. After driving up to an ATM, a witness reported seeing a man run away from the ATM then flee in a dark colored Toyota Prius. Deputies spotted the vehicle and followed it to a business where they approached the occupants, Cordova-Castellano and Lara-Sira.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe smell of marijuana gave deputies probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside of a backpack, law enforcement found approximately $15,000 in cash. Deputies located a laptop, keyboard, cables, tools, and a wireless hotspot in the vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhile executing a search warrant on Cordova-Castellano\\\\u2019s cellphone, law enforcement found chat conversations in Spanish about ATMs and photos of ATMs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u2019s Criminal Division doesn\\\\u2019t directly take part in deportation hearings. However, when we are prosecuting non-citizens for federal criminal offenses, we are cognizant of when their conduct merits prompt removal from our country, saving the taxpayer the cost of incarceration,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \\\\u201cBy offering plea agreements that include restrictions on appealing removal orders, we are helping to expedite the process of extracting convicted felons from within our borders and minimizing the expense of their prison stay.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Pottawatomie County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:58:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kansas\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:49:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454174\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Venezuelans convicted of jackpotting a Kansas ATM face deportation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ks\\\\/pr\\\\/venezuelans-convicted-jackpotting-kansas-atm-face-deportation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d62f6c78-80b6-4c5a-b02e-2a6df8950e2f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZachary Velling, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 12, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling\\\\u2019s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang\\\\/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Hornak scheduled Velling\\\\u2019s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County Police Department, and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Velling.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:56:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788443791\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:54:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788443684\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"West Virginia Man Who Attempted to Carry Flashbang Grenade Onto Plane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/west-virginia-man-who-attempted-carry-flashbang-grenade-plane-pleads-guilty-possessing\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"db4c9469-1123-49a8-a01b-5568ea591b08\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart\\\\u2019s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI\\\\u2019s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:27:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474452\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:23:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474218\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-230\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/big-timber-man-sentenced-12-years-trafficking-meth\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a720b4e-0d1a-4aea-82c2-fc4a1ce566e6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization\\\\u2019s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attach\\\\u00e9 Office in Bogot\\\\u00e1 worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:53:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:52:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461529\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Leader \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/homeland-security-task-force-yields-30-year-prison-sentence-colombian-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"10622a9c-12d0-47cb-aea8-5ff1dd12c949\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONCORD \\\\u2013 Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/media\\\\/1460166\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).\\\\u0026nbsp;Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations.\\\\u0026nbsp; The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:09:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458971\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Hampshire\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"U.S. Marshals Service\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:06:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458799\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/pr\\\\/hampton-man-indicted-failing-register-sex-offender\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9d8a2f18-3ec1-465b-956d-ba349d0f76b1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, this group of fraudsters participated in a $57 million tax fraud scheme, filing over 100 fictitious instruments and ultimately receiving more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars from the IRS,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cThe Fraud Division will continue working vigorously to investigate and prosecute tax fraud schemes like these across the country. Fraudsters should never be allowed to rip off the United States of America.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the superseding indictment, from 2023 through 2024, Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, Monika Skinger of Chicago, Illinois, Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Saule Moshkanova of Roseville, California, Tiffany Nichols of Suwanee, Georgia, and Stacey Rice of Manteca, California, along with unindicted conspirators, allegedly conspired to commit wire fraud by assisting one another in fraudulently claiming refunds in amounts totaling more than $57 million by preparing and submitting false individual and trust tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. The conspirators allegedly received more than $8 million from the IRS. Moshkanova, Nichols, and Rice were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndrea and Kent Shannon, Skinger and Chandler were previously \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/idaho-husband-and-wife-and-three-others-charged-conspiracy-commit-wire-fraud-and-related\\\\u0022\\\\u003Echarged\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea and Kent Shannon were also charged with committing multiple acts of wire fraud, making false claims to the United States and engaging in money laundering by purchasing personal property such as luxury cars with their fraudulently obtained refunds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the conspirators face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Andrea and Kent Shannon face an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each false claim charge. Kent Shannon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:37:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788539851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"82adcbda-83a7-4aee-8a37-9f205426bb18\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Idaho\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:10:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788462617\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1018\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"704d175e-07cd-47bf-b003-8f899dbd5426\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERALEIGH, N.C. \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina took part in its first H.O.P.E. outreach event in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle took the recommendation of the dedicated victim\\\\u2019s advocates to update the H.E.A.T. program to the \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eealing \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EO\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epioid \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EP\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Erevention \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Education (H.O.P.E.) program. H.O.P.E. focuses on reducing the harm heroin and opiate abuse inflicted on North Carolina families by increasing community awareness of the epidemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460126\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/hope_evenrt.jpg?itok=6VsZjJ1K\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022205\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022273\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022hope_evenrt.jpg\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the event, staff from the Eastern District actively engaged with the public to explain how heroin and opiate abuse continue to harm North Carolina families and communities. They spoke with attendees about the severity of the epidemic, shared firsthand knowledge from their work across the district, and emphasized the importance of community awareness and prevention. In addition to these conversations, staff members distributed valuable resources, connected individuals with supportive services, and offered guidance to those seeking help for themselves or loved ones. Their efforts ensured that community members left the event better informed, better equipped, and more empowered to confront the challenges posed by opioid abuse.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office remains committed to supporting families and communities affected by opioids and individuals seeking treatment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information or assistance with the H.O.P.E. Program, please contact our office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:24:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788449068\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:12:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788448325\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460126\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99b74c0f-bb31-4699-8689-1027dbaff76b\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"hope_evenrt.jpg\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office Participates in its First H.O.P.E. Event\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-participates-its-first-hope-event\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5da4fc7c-baed-4880-bfb3-5c5bc4a91bf4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDALLAS \\\\u2014 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office\\\\u2019s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative\\\\u2014bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as \\\\u201ca championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis hiring surge has stretched across the entire district, with prosecutors added in Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock and Wichita Falls, strengthening federal enforcement capacity in every corner of the Northern District of Texas. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment: the Dallas\\\\u2013Fort Worth metroplex is on pace to soon become the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, reflecting rapid population growth, increased economic activity and the corresponding rise in complex criminal threats.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Raybould. \\\\u201cWe set out to hire the best of the best\\\\u2014no matter where they were, no matter their background, no matter the competition\\\\u2014and bring them to North Texas to serve the public. Like a general manager building a professional sports franchise, we sought out top talent with proven grit, skill, and integrity. Today, that vision has become reality.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe surge of new prosecutors reflects a strategic effort to strengthen all aspects of federal enforcement, from violent crime and drug trafficking to financial fraud and corporate misconduct, cyber intrusion, national security threats, civil enforcement, and appellate advocacy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe office has drawn from a deep talent pool, recruiting experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, trial attorneys with complex litigation backgrounds, subject matter experts, and lawyers from the country\\\\u2019s leading private law firms. The new prosecutors are graduates of leading law schools across the country including the University of Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Pepperdine, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Tulane, Texas A\\\\u0026amp;M, Case Western Reserve, Loyola Chicago, George Washington University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and other nationally recognized institutions. Several are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of these hires relocated to Dallas specifically for the opportunity to serve in the Northern District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cNorth Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,\\\\u201d the U.S. Attorney continued. \\\\u201cTo meet those challenges, we invested aggressively in people, the most important asset any office has. The attorneys joining our ranks bring exceptional courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to justice. Together, we are elevating the strength and capacity of this office so that we can protect the almost 9 million folks in North Texas.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:43:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457400\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:41:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457276\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office\\\\u2019s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative\\\\u2014bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as \\\\u201ca championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas surpasses 100 prosecutors, marking historic staffing milestone\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-northern-district-texas-surpasses-100-prosecutors-marking-historic\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3f34467f-3fab-4e98-8c1e-1ca071aa2e15\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS.\\\\u0026nbsp;The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi\\\\u2019s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi,\\\\u0026nbsp;either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTax fraud isn\\\\u2019t just a numbers game\\\\u2014it\\\\u2019s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,\\\\u201d said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. \\\\u201cThis sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:06:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440772\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440658\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Asset Forfeiture\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/tampa-man-sentenced-46-months-federal-prison-and-ordered-pay-over-700000-internal\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cf777ea7-8b90-4b2a-8bf1-46828e0572e3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (\\\\u201cFCC Coleman\\\\u201d) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440644\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:02:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440553\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate Husband\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/polk-county-woman-admits-smuggling-methamphetamine-federal-prison-her-inmate-husband\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d061465-a95f-4df6-8df2-3adf99ef9e39\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMADISON, WIS. \\\\u2013 Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Stanley Pophal, 65, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 8 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Pophal pleaded guilty to the charges on April 20, 2026. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14.25 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal, using the business name Bright with Silver, Inc., offered investment opportunities; including cryptocurrency, real estate flipping, artificial intelligence technology, gold, silver, and emeralds. Pophal convinced most investors to sign investment contracts, which he styled as promissory notes. The promissory notes guaranteed investors a rate of return of at least 20%. Pophal told investors that he was able to secure high rates of return because he had connections in the finance, commodities, and real estate sectors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPophal also repeatedly told investors that even if his investments on their behalf were not successful, their investment principal was never at risk because he had enough personal wealth to repay each investor\\\\u0027s principal. He told investors that he had accumulated his wealth through past business and investment success. In fact, Pophal\\\\u2019s claims of past business success were exaggerated, and his claims of vast personal wealth were false. Pophal never had sufficient funds to personally guarantee each investor\\\\u2019s principal.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPophal used the vast majority of money he received from investors to pay his personal and business expenses, fund personal travel, pay his mortgage, rent a private plane, and purchase snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles including a yellow Ferrari.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo further the fraud scheme, Pophal made \\\\u201cPonzi\\\\u201d payments to early victims, falsely representing the payments to be investment returns or interest, when in truth the payments were comprised of funds from new investors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the sentencing, many victims spoke, sharing the impact that Pophal\\\\u2019s crimes had on them. Stressing that life savings and retirement funds were lost, Judge Conley noted that no prison sentence could fully account for the horror of Pophal\\\\u2019s conduct because Pophal preyed upon vulnerable individuals who trusted him. Judge Conley also found that the victims were still grieving over the loss of their hard-earned funds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized more than 600 items Pophal purchased or funded with investor funds. The items included hundreds of snowmobiles, which Pophal stored in a rented warehouse. Two photos from that warehouse are below. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Pophal agreed to forfeit these items.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPophal\\\\u2019s actions were not just financial crimes; they were deliberate acts of greed. He preyed on investors who trusted him, draining their life savings and shattering their security. Yesterday\\\\u2019s sentence makes clear that exploiting people for personal gain will be met with firm and unambiguous justice. The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office will continue to stand up for victims whose voices were stolen by fraudsters like him.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPophal took the trust his investors placed in him and turned it into a payday for himself, using deceit to steal more than $14 million and live high on other people\\\\u2019s money,\\\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\\\u201cOur special agents used their forensic accounting expertise to pull apart his Ponzi scheme, dollar by dollar. There\\\\u2019s no clever way to dress up stealing, and if you build your fortune by cheating others, don\\\\u2019t be surprised when the numbers lead us straight to your door.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStanley Pophal victimized 190 hardworking people out of their money through an investment scam in which he lied to would-be investors. Instead of growing wealth for the victims, he spent their money to fund his own personal lavish lifestyle which included purchasing hundreds of snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles. His deceit led to victim losses of over $14 million,\\\\u201d said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. \\\\u201cThe FBI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable for their actions. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to steal from hardworking people for their own personal greed.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges against Pophal are a result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI with assistance from The Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau, the Allamakee Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office, and the Winneshiek Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:00:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883248\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:08:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476900\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Wausau Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdwi\\\\/pr\\\\/wausau-man-sentenced-8-years-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"310c8a32-507f-4879-b582-27f77d0864b1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWade was previously convicted in 2011 on federal charges of possession of child pornography and was on supervised release for those offenses when he committed these newest offenses. On April 11, 2024, probation officers searched Wade\\\\u2019s residence, seizing multiple unmonitored devices, including four laptops and a hard drive, suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. An initial review recovered multiple videos of suspected child pornography on the seized hard drive, which was found hidden under some clothes in a laundry bin. A subsequent examination recovered over 40,000 images and videos of child pornography on the hard drive. Investigators also located the web browser Tore on the hard drive. Tore is frequently used by individuals in possession of child pornography to receive and distribute child pornography from the internet.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Melissa M. Marangola. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:04:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476654\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:02:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476551\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal jury convicts prior felon on new child pornography charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-prior-felon-new-child-pornography-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d45f0ea-0e4b-4094-be00-31983cfb9d3c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis pair of repeat offenders has demonstrated an outright refusal to lead law-abiding lives, and the only way we can guarantee the safety of our community is by ensuring they are kept off our streets and behind federal bars where they belong. My office will continue to back up the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions like this to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on January 14, 2026, federal agents executed an arrest warrant on Perry at a hotel in Pensacola, Florida. When law enforcement made entry into Perry\\\\u2019s hotel room to effectuate the arrest, they observed drug paraphernalia littered throughout the room, along with a \\\\u201cspeed loader\\\\u201d tool to quickly load ammunition into firearm magazines. Bassolino, another occupant of the hotel room, admitted that narcotics were present and gave consent to search the room. During their search, law enforcement discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded firearm. Both Bassolino and Perry are convicted felons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, with Perry most recently being convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl in July 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDue to a prior serious drug felony conviction, Perry faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years\\\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count. Perry also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years\\\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence given in this case, for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count and up to 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the possession by a convicted felon count.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBassolino faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years\\\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of forty years\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBassolino and Perry are scheduled for sentencing on November 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm respectively, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:36:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788453375\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:34:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788453288\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Guilty Pleas Entered for Pensacola-Area Gun \\\\u0026amp; Drug Crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/guilty-pleas-entered-pensacola-area-gun-drug-crimes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2f91ad0-857c-49d2-be89-b24bc3e2dd1d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with\\\\u0026nbsp;the FBI\\\\u2019s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Vincent Valdivieso, 22, exchanged text messages with an 11-year-old victim in which he lied about his own age, repeatedly requested sexually explicit photographs, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting with the victim.\\\\u0026nbsp; Over FaceTime and at Valdivieso\\\\u2019s direction, the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct while Valdivieso masturbated.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EValdivieso is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography and attempting to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2251(a) and (e); attempted receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u00a7 2252(a)(2) and (b); and transfer of obscene material to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 1470.\\\\u0026nbsp; If convicted, Valdivieso faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;The FBI\\\\u2019s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Street Task Force and Delaware State Police investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI launched \\\\u201cSummer Heat\\\\u201d for the second year in a row, targeting violent crime on a nationwide scale. It launched this multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside federal, state, and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, the FBI seeks to aggressively restore safety in communities across the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-442.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:35:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788460505\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Delaware\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788445088\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with\\\\u0026nbsp;the FBI\\\\u2019s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Wilmington Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges  Involving an 11-Year-Old\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\/pr\\\\/wilmington-man-arrested-child-pornography-charges-involving-11-year-old\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"280ad19b-fbee-47d6-b5a6-b068730eabad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 An Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EManuel Flores, 72, pleaded guilty in February 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Flores tried to coerce a 15-year-old Montana girl into a sexual relationship while she was living in his house in Arizona and after she returned home. The girl was the daughter of a family friend; Flores had known her for several years. In June 2024, he arranged for the girl to travel from Montana to his home in Arizona to spend the summer.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhile in his home, Flores texted the girl regarding his sexual interest in her. The girl rejected Flores\\\\u2019 advances and returned to Montana at the end of the summer. However, Flores continued to text the girl, with many of these messages repeating and furthering the sexual advances he had sent over the summer. At times, he encouraged the girl to return to Arizona so that they could be together romantically.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe girl told her mother about Flores\\\\u2019s behavior and the mom contacted law enforcement. Agents took over the girl\\\\u2019s account and posed as the girl in further communication with Flores, who continued to message. In a string of texts, Flores requested in graphic detail nude photos of the girl and told her he would fly to Montana and not return to Arizona until he had her with him. Flores flew to Montana on Aug. 18, 2025, and was arrested by law enforcement when he landed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:45:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475519\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:39:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-233\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Arizona man sentenced to a decade in prison after he attempted to coerce a teenage girl into sex\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/arizona-man-sentenced-decade-prison-after-he-attempted-coerce-teenage-girl-sex\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d3ce707c-6375-4e1c-b00d-e6e3733683fd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEL RIO, Texas \\\\u2013 A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Estin Cole West, 25, operated a Google account that had been identified as saving 81 videos and images of suspected child sexual abuse material in November 2023 when he was living in Laredo. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed the Google account, IP address, and two associated email addresses all belonged to West.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHSI agents also learned that West was employed by the Texas National Guard and had recently been stationed at a military installation in Del Rio. During an interview with West, agents located multiple videos depicting CSAM in a locked folder within West\\\\u2019s phone, as well as a Telegram application that also contained several batches of CSAM. A forensic analysis of West\\\\u2019s phone returned 512 images and 726 videos depicting child pornography, including images of bestiality and prepubescent children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWest was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EICE HSI investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:58:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788451094\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:56:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788450993\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEstin Cole West was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Texas National Guardsman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/texas-national-guardsman-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possessing-child\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"547ce5a7-946e-457b-9176-3720b7762dee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 1974, Ridgeway began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), based upon his representation that he is disabled and does not own countable resources exceeding $2,000 in value. In January 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on Langmeyer Avenue in Buffalo, jointly with his wife. The value of the property at the time exceeded $2,000, which made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until March 2017.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESubsequently, in October 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on LaSalle Avenue in Buffalo, using the identity of J.J.R. The value of the property at time of purchase exceeded $2,000, which again made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until September 2011. In February 2005, Ridgeway purchased two properties on Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, the value of which exceeded $2,000. He owned the properties until October 2020, once again making him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. In May 2010, Ridgeway purchased a property on Marigold Street in Buffalo, using the identity of his deceased mother. Once again, the value of the property exceeded $2,000. He owned the property until October 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERidgeway failed to disclose ownership of any of these the properties to the SSA, with the intent to continue fraudulently collecting SSI payments. In June 2021, Ridgeway completed an SSI redetermination with the SSA. On the redetermination form, he stated that he did not own any property and signed it under the following statement: \\\\u201cI understand that anyone who knowingly lies or misrepresents the truth or arranges for someone to knowingly lie or misrepresent the truth is committing a crime which can be punished under Federal law, State law, or both. Everything on this document is the truth as best I know it.\\\\u201d The SSA determined that Ridgeway\\\\u2019s concealment of his resources resulted in an SSI overpayment of $179,276 between February 2004, and October 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is of the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, Boston New York Field Division, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:56:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476207\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:50:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475802\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Buffalo man going to prison for defrauding SSA out of tens of thousands of dollars\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/buffalo-man-going-prison-defrauding-ssa-out-tens-thousands-dollars\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dde16372-8bca-4156-b83b-f489deea1155\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, three men engaged in distribution of methamphetamine across the Quad Cities area. The men were responsible for providing approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution in the Quad Cities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 17, 2026, Jacob Daniel Sheley, 27, of Clinton, also known as \\\\u201cChili,\\\\u201d was sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During a February 2025 search warrant at Sheley\\\\u2019s Clinton residence, law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded firearm, and more than $6000 in drug proceeds. In 2020, Sheley was convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in the Iowa District Court for Clinton County.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 16, 2026, Jacob Daniel Timmsen, 35, of Durant, was sentenced to 284 months, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Timmsen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, Cody Scott Sheese, 27, of Davenport, also known as \\\\u201cCody Tuttle\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cNugget,\\\\u201d was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheese pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sheese was on supervised release at the time of this offense. Sheese\\\\u2019s supervised release was revoked and was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to run consecutive to the 20-year prison term.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Muscatine County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e9e9329b8913137c546261feecdec6eab\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec7f3c03ee0afe8320337b6972c5bb424\\\\u0022\\\\u003Estrong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e47379f5e99812736859a6184dd621b4b\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eaccountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov\\\\/PSN.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:31:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788456681\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:27:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788456455\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Iowa Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdia\\\\/pr\\\\/iowa-men-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-and-gun-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"41538d76-869e-4431-9ba8-7b8134b9e41a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 Dominican authorities extradited Fidel Antonio Knight-Cerda to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant was arrested in the Dominican Republic on July 8, 2026, and extradited to Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis extradition is another important step towards the total elimination of international drug cartels and demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners, and the cooperation of the Dominican authorities, to work together to bring international drug traffickers to justice,\\\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3. \\\\u201cWe will continue to maximize our multi-agency efforts to disrupt and dismantle international drug cartels that poison our streets and communities with dangerous drugs by smuggling these into Puerto Rico and the continental United States.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s action underscores the FBI\\\\u2019s unwavering commitment to pursuing transnational criminal actors wherever they operate. Working alongside our partners, we will continue to dismantle networks that threaten the safety and stability of our communities,\\\\u201d said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s San Juan Field Office. \\\\u201cThis extradition demonstrates that no distance, no alliance, and no criminal \n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nud and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on investors for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe sheer magnitude of this investment fraud and the financial harm it caused to hundreds of innocent victims underscores the seriousness of abuse to our financial systems,\\\\u201d said IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. \\\\u201cPerkins\\\\u2019 lengthy prison sentence and massive restitution order reflects the gravity of the defendant\\\\u2019s actions and makes clear that when someone lies about performance, conceals losses, and siphons off other people\\\\u2019s money for themselves, IRS CI will uncover the truth.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Utah Division of Securities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton, Joseph Hood, and Travis K. Elder of The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:23:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788463403\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e6b05612-a636-4a2b-80bd-dffad09c4d08\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Utah\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:13:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788455613\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"Release No. 26-92\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EST. GEORGE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, Utah \\\\u2013 A Southern Utah man was sentenced to 180 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment after he posed as a \\\\u2018savant\\\\u2019 stock trader, obtaining at least $89 million from approximately 200 investors. The majority of the funds were either lost in day trading or misappropriated, resulting in an outstanding victim loss of at least $77 million, which he concealed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Washington County Man Sentenced to 15 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Wire Fraud \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ut\\\\/pr\\\\/washington-county-man-sentenced-15-years-imprisonment-wire-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1f439b0b-379a-451d-a3eb-49698e3b481e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDevonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Skinner to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to admissions made as part of his guilty plea,\\\\u0026nbsp;on February 21, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security \\\\u2013 Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase of 3,792 pills pressed to resemble 30 mg oxycodone and containing 539.2 grams of fentanyl\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efrom Skinner and another individual using a confidential source (CS). The CS met Skinner in a restaurant parking lot on O\\\\u2019Neal Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Skinner was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle and exchanged the pills and money with the CS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security \\\\u2013 Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Livingston Parish Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese led the prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cI am very pleased with the dedicated work of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Wall. \\\\u201cFentanyl continues to pose a grave threat to communities throughout Louisiana and distributing this substance in such quantities risks devastating harm.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account the criminal act and the defendant\\\\u2019s prior criminal history, called for a sentencing range of 262 to 327 months. Although we respect the Court\\\\u2019s role in sentencing, we have concerns that a sentence far below the guidelines range sends a harmful message. Unfortunately, our district has experienced hundreds of fentanyl overdoses over the past few years. Recently, we are beginning to see a reduction in those numbers, which gives us some optimism that the message of the dangerousness of fentanyl is finally gaining traction. The defendant\\\\u2019s conduct has to be viewed in the same light as if he had fired 3,972 rounds of ammunition on our public streets.\\\\u0026nbsp; A 92-month sentence is insufficient, and our office is reviewing the judgment closely and considering all options, including appeal.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFentanyl traffickers endanger our communities with every pill they put on the street,\\\\u201d said HSI New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. \\\\u201cThis\\\\u0026nbsp;investigation and conviction reflect\\\\u0026nbsp;HSI\\\\u2019s\\\\u0026nbsp;continued\\\\u0026nbsp;commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who distribute deadly narcotics in Louisiana. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue using every lawful tool available to disrupt criminal networks and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Coast Guard, Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol (CBP BP) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u0027s Office for Middle District of Louisiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:12:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788444772\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T08:48:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788439687\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDevonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS APPEAL OF SENTENCE OF ALBANY MAN SENTENCED TO 92 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING NEARLY 4,000 FENTANYL PILLS\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdla\\\\/pr\\\\/government-considers-appeal-sentence-albany-man-sentenced-92-months-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d97ff93-6133-4219-b362-b64002becfdb\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREAT FALLS \\\\u2013 A Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELeonard Allen Parisian, 63, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Parisian was part of a group trafficking fentanyl on the Rocky Boy\\\\u2019s Indian Reservation between 2023 and 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaw enforcement first learned of Parisian\\\\u2019s involvement with the group in spring 2024. An informant told officers that starting in 2020 he supplied fentanyl pills to Parisian\\\\u2019s son, \\\\u201cLittle Al.\\\\u201d When Little Al was sent to prison in 2023, the informant began supplying pills to Parisian, known as \\\\u201cBig Al,\\\\u201d who purchased between 3,000 and 6,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Big Al regularly sent couriers out of state to pick up the fentanyl from the informant. In all, the informant estimated that Big Al purchased between 15,000 and 20,000 fentanyl pills for redistribution in Montana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:43:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788446615\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:35:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788446151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-227\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Box Elder man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl on Rocky Boy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/box-elder-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-trafficking-fentanyl-rocky-boy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"61b7eb35-6768-423e-99a3-a2f0f5f012e4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERICHMOND, Va. \\\\u2013 A Richmond man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on May 22, 2025, Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, used a dating app to contact another user who purportedly was the father of a nine-year-old son, but in actuality was an undercover agent with the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Sprinkle immediately invited the user to communicate via the Telegram app. After alluding to a sexual interest in minors, Sprinkle sent a video depicting two adults sexually abusing a minor. Sprinkle then expressed his interest in travelling to Washington, D.C., to meet the other user and sexually abuse his purported nine-year-old son.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn Oct. 16, 2025, FBI agents searched Sprinkle\\\\u2019s residence in Richmond and seized two laptop computers and a cellphone. Sprinkle\\\\u2019s cellphone contained 43 CSAM files and one of the laptops contained two additional files. The files included depictions of the abuse of toddler-aged children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Hubbard Theisen and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-2.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:39:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457159\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:38:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457134\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, of Richmond, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Richmond man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/richmond-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-distributing-child-sexual-abuse-material\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d30db26f-433a-42f3-b4f2-ca51aeb7ee10\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment, returned on September 2, 2026, includes two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from alleged conduct in 2011 and a charge of possession of child pornography. These charges are in addition to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and falsely presenting as a federal employee, which were initially charged by federal criminal complaint following Cassidy\\\\u2019s arrest on federal charges in August.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the federal criminal complaint previously filed in the matter, Cassidy allegedly used his position as a teacher and athletics coach to develop a relationship with a minor student and falsely represented himself as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also used multiple online platforms\\\\u2014email, messaging services, and encrypted accounts\\\\u2014to communicate with the minor under various fictitious identities. Cassidy allegedly directed the minor to engage in acts, including taking partially nude photographs of herself, claiming they were part of an FBI \\\\u201ctraining program.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChildren should never have to fear the adults entrusted with their safety and education. The allegations in this indictment are abhorrent and represent a profound betrayal of that trust,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. \\\\u201cWe will relentlessly pursue those who prey upon children and use every available resource to hold them accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cCassidy stands accused of a litany of crimes against children who were entrusted to his care. This is every parent\\\\u2019s nightmare \\\\u2013 a trusted coach, teacher, and trainer allegedly using his trust and access to children to manipulate and eventually exploit kids,\\\\u201d said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. \\\\u201cThis case came to HSI\\\\u2019s attention through a tip from a vigilant parent through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners. HSI works around the clock with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes against children, but we can only do this work with the help of the parents, friends, teachers, and members of the public who are ready to come forward when they see something they know is wrong.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment further alleges that Cassidy sexually exploited a minor on two occasions in 2011 for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Cassidy is also charged with knowingly possessing or accessing, with intent to view, child pornography through approximately June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECassidy is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECoercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each count of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of thirty years. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, and falsely presenting as a federal employee carries a maximum sentence of three years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECassidy was previously arrested on June 1 and July 17, 2026, on related Rhode Island state charges. The federal investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to review evidence and evaluate reports of Cassidy\\\\u2019s contacts with additional minors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise Barton.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement partners.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T13:54:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788544447\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Rhode Island\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T13:15:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788542153\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-90\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Barrington Christian Academy Teacher Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ri\\\\/pr\\\\/former-barrington-christian-academy-teacher-indicted-federal-child-exploitation-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"19f181b6-64d9-4f3a-9d4c-7d24a28d3a2a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\\\u2013 A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:51:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461518\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:44:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461087\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVerndale Ray Seals was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/judge-deals-30-year-federal-sentence-texas-felon-who-trafficked-fentanyl-state-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"505bc82b-9374-4e8e-bc2e-c9620d8f9b47\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREENSBORO \\\\u2013 A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior\\\\/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was dri\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 4.416682926
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01YGUeh8kaaJcAVwBd7kF7s1

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,datetime,collections,re\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n try:\n d=json.load(open(f)); inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n except Exception: continue\n for r in inner.get('results',[]): rows[r['uuid']]=r\ndef day(r): return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d')\nrecent={u:r for u,r in rows.items() if day(r)>='2026-09-05'}\nprint(len(recent))\nc=collections.Counter(day(r) for r in recent.values())\nprint(sorted(c.items()))\njson.dump({u:{k:r[k] for k in ('title','url','date','teaser','body','component')} for u,r in recent.items()}, open('/workspace/work/doj_week.json','w'))\nopa=[r for r in recent.values() if '/opa/pr/' in r['url']]\nfor r in sorted(opa,key=lambda r:r['date'],reverse=True):\n print(day(r),'|',r['title'].strip())\nEOF" }

Tool Progress E0084

(no result)

Tool Result E0085

261 [('2026-09-05', 1), ('2026-09-08', 63), ('2026-09-09', 78), ('2026-09-10', 67), ('2026-09-11', 52)] 2026-09-11 | Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter 2026-09-11 | Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court 2026-09-11 | California Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Sadistic Child Sexual Abuse Material Over the Dark Web 2026-09-11 | Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy 2026-09-10 | Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election 2026-09-10 | Dompé U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks 2026-09-10 | The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment for Illegal Aliens 2026-09-10 | Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma 2026-09-10 | Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cleanup 2026-09-10 | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware 2026-09-10 | Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While Serving Abroad 2026-09-10 | Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy 2026-09-09 | Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions 2026-09-09 | California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal 2026-09-09 | Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election 2026-09-09 | Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud 2026-09-08 | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses 2026-09-08 | Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01YGUeh8kaaJcAVwBd7kF7s1, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.319

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,datetime,collections,re\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n    try:\n        d=json.load(open(f)); inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n    except Exception: continue\n    for r in inner.get('results',[]): rows[r['uuid']]=r\ndef day(r): return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d')\nrecent={u:r for u,r in rows.items() if day(r)>='2026-09-05'}\nprint(len(recent))\nc=collections.Counter(day(r) for r in recent.values())\nprint(sorted(c.items()))\njson.dump({u:{k:r[k] for k in ('title','url','date','teaser','body','component')} for u,r in recent.items()}, open('/workspace/work/doj_week.json','w'))\nopa=[r for r in recent.values() if '/opa/pr/' in r['url']]\nfor r in sorted(opa,key=lambda r:r['date'],reverse=True):\n    print(day(r),'|',r['title'].strip())\nEOF"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01YGUeh8kaaJcAVwBd7kF7s1",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.320

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01YGUeh8kaaJcAVwBd7kF7s1",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport js...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169684984
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.321

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01YGUeh8kaaJcAVwBd7kF7s1",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "261\n[('2026-09-05', 1), ('2026-09-08', 63), ('2026-09-09', 78), ('2026-09-10', 67), ('2026-09-11', 52)]\n2026-09-11 | Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter\n2026-09-11 | Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court\n2026-09-11 | California Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Sadistic Child Sexual Abuse Material Over the Dark Web\n2026-09-11 | Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy\n2026-09-10 | Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election\n2026-09-10 | Dompé U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks\n2026-09-10 | The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment for Illegal Aliens\n2026-09-10 | Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\n2026-09-10 | Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cleanup\n2026-09-10 | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware\n2026-09-10 | Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While Serving Abroad\n2026-09-10 | Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\n2026-09-09 | Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions\n2026-09-09 | California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\n2026-09-09 | Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\n2026-09-09 | Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\n2026-09-08 | Russian National Extradited to United States for  Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses\n2026-09-08 | Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti\n",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.139773258
}

web_fetch completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01PedipR1BxTU7XkvHV1RjAS

Input

{ "brief": "Confirm coverage back through Sept 5", "max_age_seconds": 3600, "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json?pagesize=%5BREDACTED%5D&sort=%5BREDACTED%5D&direction=%5BREDACTED%5D&page=%5BREDACTED%5D" }

Tool Progress E0087

(no result)

Tool Result E0088

{"content":"{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":\"50\",\"page\":10},\"executionTime\":1.5228471755981445},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EZachary Babitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was sentenced to life plus 26 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024, including the fatal shooting of an 83-year-old Santa Fe man during a carjacking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, between July 30 and August 10, 2024, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 40, committed a series of armed robberies, carjackings and a fatal shooting across Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Do\\u00f1a Ana counties.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u2019s crime spree began on July 30, 2024, when he entered an AutoZone in Albuquerque armed with a handgun, demanded money from an employee and stole approximately $345. The following day, he robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Albuquerque by presenting a demand note and indicating he was armed, obtaining approximately $3,300.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn August 3, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E robbed a Jersey Mike\\u2019s restaurant at gunpoint, taking cash from the register and forcing an employee to open a safe where additional money was stolen.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn August 6, 2024, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E committed a carjacking in Santa Fe County during which he confronted 83-year-old John Doe with a firearm. When Doe offered resistance, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E shot him, rifled through his pockets for the vehicle keys and left him in a parking lot. Doe later died from his injuries.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEven after the killing, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E continued his violent crime spree. On August 9, he carried out another carjacking in Bernalillo County, knocking the victim unconscious. On August 10 in Las Cruces, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E and an accomplice robbed an Arby\\u2019s restaurant at gunpoint, stealing cash, and later that same day participated in another armed carjacking in which they forced a victim from a vehicle at gunpoint. While fleeing from law enforcement, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E crashed the stolen vehicle and was found hiding in a nearby dumpster.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was on state probation for six robberies committed in Albuquerque and had a lengthy history of violent felony convictions. His adult criminal record dates to 2004 and includes armed carjackings in Nevada and California, including an incident in which he fired a gun while attempting to steal a woman\\u2019s purse. After moving to New Mexico, he was convicted in 2018 for a series of six robberies committed over several weeks.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBabitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was charged by federal indictment with 13 counts arising from the 2024 crime spree. On October 22, 2025, the United States filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. On April 17, 2026, Babitz and the United States entered into a binding plea agreement calling for a sentence of life imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBabitz pleaded guilty to all 13 counts of the indictment, including two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use and possession of a firearm, one count of carjacking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting, one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the FBI\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office, Santa Fe Police Department, Albuquerque Police Department and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:40:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788381618\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Mexico\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T15:34:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788377673\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-258\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EZachary Babitz\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was sentenced to life plus 26 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024, including the fatal shooting of an 83-year-old Santa Fe man during a carjacking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Zachary Babitz Sentenced to Life in Prison for Armed Robbery and Carjacking Crime Spree That Ended in Fatal Shooting\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nm\\/pr\\/zachary-babitz-sentenced-life-prison-armed-robbery-and-carjacking-crime-spree-ended\",\"uuid\":\"6291454d-8386-4519-a906-72d41be4554d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELONDON, Ky. \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EFranklin Delano Campbell, 67, was sentenced on Wednesday to 236 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith, on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine (powder) and cocaine base (crack).\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation revealed that, beginning sometime around January 2022, and continuing through November 2025, Campbell was regularly obtaining one-half to one-kilogram quantities of powder cocaine from and out-of-state source of supply. Campbell would then turn a large portion of this cocaine into crack, which he would sell to various upper-, mid-, and low-level drug traffickers, as well as end drug users in the Perry County, Kentucky area. Campbell and his co-conspirators sold the majority of these drugs from his home in the Bonnyman, Kentucky. Campbell paid others in drugs and\\/or money to drive to Ohio and meet with his source to pick up these drugs and bring them back to Kentucky.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As part of his plea, Campbell forfeited several pieces of real property, two vehicles, multiple firearms, and approximately $119,684.00 in U.S. currency that were seized as part of the investigation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnder federal law, Campbell must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys W. Samuel Dotson and Haley Trogden McCauley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u2013 END \\u2013\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:29:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788380943\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:26:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788380819\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Perry County Man Sentenced for Trafficking Powder and Crack Cocaine\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edky\\/pr\\/perry-county-man-sentenced-trafficking-powder-and-crack-cocaine\",\"uuid\":\"b9ab1f3b-6c97-45d4-9dae-ba548e42a226\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\u2013 An illegal alien from Cuba was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Tuesday to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Robyn Argote-Brooks, 26, of Havana, Cuba, used his vehicle to damage an SUV and a sedan, both of which were property of the United States and maintained by ICE. The amount of damage to each vehicle exceeded $1,000.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EArgote-Brooks was arrested and charged via complaint with one count of destruction of government property. An indictment filed Feb. 4 added a second destruction of government property count as well as a charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer. On May 8, a federal jury convicted Argote-Brooks of both destruction of government property counts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Argote-Brooks to 10 months in federal prison for each count, which will run concurrently. Biery also ordered three years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment, and $9,767 in restitution for the damages.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Walker and Todd Keagle prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener noreferrer\\u0022 data-interception=\\u0022off\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T10:50:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788360609\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T10:46:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788360409\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobyn Argote-Brooks, an illegal alien from Cuba, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Judge Orders Illegal Alien to Pay Nearly $10,000 and Serve Prison Time for Ramming ICE Vehicles in January \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtx\\/pr\\/federal-judge-orders-illegal-alien-pay-nearly-10000-and-serve-prison-time-ramming-ice\",\"uuid\":\"d0f7c1ba-4e5a-47a5-b517-d9c1b8fe3f07\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETYLER, Texas \\u2013 A Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDennis Smith, 66, was named in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2026, charging him with coercion and enticement, attempted production of child pornography with intent to transport to the United States, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Smith was arrested in Tyler on September 2, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in federal court on September 3, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on various dates in 2019 and 2022, Smith is alleged to have committed numerous offenses involving minor victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Smith\\u0026nbsp;faces life\\u0026nbsp;in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, the Smith County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Smith County District Attorney\\u2019s Office.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Richards and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.\\u0026nbsp; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003E \\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T15:57:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788379038\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T15:52:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788378725\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Smith County man arrested, charged with child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtx\\/pr\\/smith-county-man-arrested-charged-child-exploitation-violations-eastern-district-texas\",\"uuid\":\"d2b73a10-e4cf-486a-9c23-92ec06e98977\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERaul Torres-Olivarez, 47, from Mexico, who was illegally residing in the United States pled guilty on August 19, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea hearing, showed that on February 4, 2026, law enforcement had information that Torres-Olivarez was unlawfully in the United States and was residing in Sioux City, Iowa.\\u0026nbsp; Immigration officials observed an individual matching the description of Torres-Olivarez leaving a residence and entering a vehicle.\\u0026nbsp; Officers attempted to traffic stop the vehicle driven by Torres-Olivarez, but he failed to immediately stop.\\u0026nbsp; The officers were operating in unmarked vehicles, and Torres-Olivarez\\u2019s vehicle struck one of the unmarked law enforcement vehicles.\\u0026nbsp; After Torres-Olivarez\\u2019s vehicle stopped, he attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETorres-Olivarez was previously removed from the United States to Mexico on or about December 1, 2023.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\u0026nbsp; Torres-Olivarez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\u0026nbsp; Torres-Olivarez faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4006.\\u0026nbsp; Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:41:02-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788374462\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:40:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788374400\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/mexican-man-pleads-guilty-illegal-reentry-0\",\"uuid\":\"99af35be-cf47-4ff2-a715-0d6fdedc721c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Richeline Anisso Fung, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and formerly of Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims while working as a full-time employee for the Department of Homeland Security\\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS-CISA), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cRicheline Fung stole a quarter\\u2011million dollars from the American taxpayer, and today she stands as a convicted felon who will be required to pay full restitution,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\u201cLet this be unmistakable: if you defraud the American\\u0026nbsp;people,\\u0026nbsp;federal agents will come knocking.\\u0026nbsp;Nationwide initiatives across federal agencies are rapidly detecting, rooting out, and prosecuting wrongdoing to protect every taxpayer dollar as part of President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Sparkle Sooknanan accepted Fung\\u2019s guilty plea\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;scheduled sentencing for\\u0026nbsp;Jan.\\u0026nbsp;20, 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cNo profession is immune from prosecution,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cRicheline Fung abused her positions as a federal employee and government contractor to steal nearly $250,000 from the U.S. government. Public service is a public trust, not an opportunity to defraud American taxpayers. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds the United States, regardless of title or agency.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents,\\u0026nbsp;Fung was a full-time DHS-CISA employee between September 2016 and October 2025. She lived in Maryland when she started working for DHS-CISA but moved to Florida. Between January 2021 and August 2024, Fung\\u0026nbsp;served in multiple federal government contractor positions despite being a full-time U.S. government employee with DHS-CISA. She worked as a contractor for the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She served in these positions as a direct employee or as an independent contractor\\/consultant through her business RAF Pro-Consulting, LLC, which she incorporated in Florida in 2020.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with her employment, Fung\\u0026nbsp;submitted\\u0026nbsp;timesheets certifying the number of hours she worked each pay period. Fung routinely overstated those hours, even claiming to work more than 24 hours in a single day on multiple occasions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor example, in February 2022, Fung was employed by DHS-CISA and three different federal contractors performing work for USDA, FHWA, and DOJ. For that month alone, Fung\\u2019s combined hours totaled more than 24 hours in a single day on 15 occasions. Shockingly, she claimed to work 33 hours on February 7, 8, 9, and 10, and 32 hours on February 11.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFung admitted that she concealed her employment with DHS-CISA and the federal contractors from each other. She also acknowledged that she was able to conceal her employment because she teleworked\\u0026nbsp;for\\u0026nbsp;all\\u0026nbsp;the\\u0026nbsp;positions during the relevant period.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFung also admitted that her criminal conduct caused the U.S. government to suffer a loss of\\u0026nbsp;nearly a\\u0026nbsp;quarter million dollars. As part of her plea agreement, she must pay full restitution.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Offices of the Inspector General for AmeriCorps, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the FBI Washington Field Office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.\\u0026nbsp;Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President JD Vance to\\u0026nbsp;eliminate\\u0026nbsp;fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E26cr177\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:43:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788374597\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:34:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788374083\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERicheline Anisso Fung, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and formerly of Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims while working as a full-time employee for the Department of Homeland Security\\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS-CISA), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Homeland Security Employee Pleads Guilty in $250,000 Fraud Scheme \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/former-homeland-security-employee-pleads-guilty-250000-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"13aa156c-0380-4bda-8785-78d3489e8a9c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2014 A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMichael Moore lied to his clients and lied to the IRS all while lining his own pockets,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\u201cTo conceal his involvement in his criminal conduct, Mr. Moore impermissibly used a former employee\\u2019s identity to file fraudulent returns. Return preparers like Mr. Moore who abuse their clients\\u2019 trust and undermine the integrity of the internal revenue laws will continue to be brought to justice by the Fraud Division\\u2019s Tax Section, our U.S. Attorneys, and our law enforcement partners like IRS-CI.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message that those who manufacture fake wage records for personal enrichment will face severe federal prison time,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMoore\\u2019s schemes were designed to cheat the tax system while shifting the resulting burden onto law abiding taxpayers,\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe of the IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office. \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence underscores that IRS-CI will aggressively pursue those who exploit the tax system for personal gain, and it should serve as a reminder that financial crimes carry serious consequences.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 through 2025, Michael J. Moore, of Las Vegas, was a former CPA who operated a tax preparation, bookkeeping and accounting business that advertised itself as specializing in clients from the adult entertainment industry. Moore promoted a fraudulent tax avoidance scheme called the \\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy.\\u201d As part of the scheme, Moore promised clients that in exchange for a fee he could prepare a tax return that eliminated the taxes they owed to the IRS and, in most cases, create a large tax refund. The fees Moore required as part of this \\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy\\u201d were paid by the clients using the refund money received from the IRS. In many instances, clients were required to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo carry out the \\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy,\\u201d Moore made up false and fraudulent entries on the clients\\u2019 tax returns. In many cases, he did this by including on the returns false business expenses frequently amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. In some instances, Moore prepared and filed the tax returns using a former employee\\u2019s name and personal identifying information without their permission or knowledge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter he had been charged for his role in the \\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy,\\u201d Moore engaged in a separate scheme involving preparation of false returns for clients. As part of this second scheme, Moore again reported totally false items on client tax returns. In the second scheme, Moore typically reported false losses from one or more corporate entities, most of which were defunct, dormant or carried on no business. These reported losses were false because the clients had not incurred these expenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Moore caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $3.5 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMoore pleaded guilty to one count each of tax evasion, helping a client file a false tax return, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Patrick Burns of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:43:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788385399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:41:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788385290\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2014 A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nevada Man Sentenced to Prison for False Tax Return Schemes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"},{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/nevada-man-sentenced-prison-false-tax-return-schemes\",\"uuid\":\"9f36c0d0-f5d6-4e0a-9f80-2f8629d2e892\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBEAUMONT, Texas \\u2013 A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDarrell Joshua Bendy, 42, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, from December 2022 through November 2024, Bendy supplied kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a drug trafficker in Beaumont.\\u0026nbsp; During the conspiracy, Bendy lived in, and conducted his drug trafficking activities from Houston.\\u0026nbsp; During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $100,000 in cash.\\u0026nbsp; It is believed that between 20-30 kilograms of methamphetamine have been distributed as part of this drug trafficking conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;case is\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; Jefferson County Sheriff\\u2019s Office; Beaumont Police Department; Port Neches Police Department; Harris County Sheriff\\u2019s Office; Vidor Police Department; and the Orange County Sheriff\\u2019s Office with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Lee and John B. Ross.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:43:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788389014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:21:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788387710\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Beaumont man receives 40 year federal prison sentence as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edtx\\/pr\\/beaumont-man-receives-40-year-federal-prison-sentence-part-homeland-security-task\",\"uuid\":\"5d71974e-c324-41d1-9333-75bbb227bee5\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBetween June 2020 and December 2021, Goodsell, then approximately 35 years old, was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor girl, who was 16 years and 17 years old. During that time, Goodsell used a cellular device to record videos while they were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In June 2022, Goodsell distributed multiple videos of that conduct through Facebook Messenger.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Colleen M. McCarthy are handling the prosecution of the case. The plea is the result of an investigation by\\u0026nbsp;the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O\\u2019Grady, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional Assistance was provided by the Pittsburgh Office of the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T19:15:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788390916\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T19:13:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788390832\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Wellsville man who had sex with a minor pleads guilty to distributing videos\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/wellsville-man-who-had-sex-minor-pleads-guilty-distributing-videos\",\"uuid\":\"b702c503-cc82-45fc-bfcf-6f2ec40b8590\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cRepeat criminal offenders who treat our nation\\u0027s borders as a revolving door will face the full weight of federal prosecution,\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\u201cUnder Title 8 of the United States Code, unlawful reentry after a previous deportation\\u2014particularly following aggravated felony convictions\\u2014constitutes a federal felony carrying substantial prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMilton Daniel Lopez-Bonilla is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Rodriguez-Betanco is a citizen and national of Guatemala who was previously deported five times: October 5, 1998, February 6, 1999, May 12, 2004, February 5, 2008, and July 10, 2020, and reentered the United States illegally.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn August 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Lopez-Bonilla into custody after he was arrested in Reno, Nevada, on a prostitution-related charge. This will be Lopez-Bonilla\\u2019s third prosecution for illegal reentry into the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Lopez-Bonilla faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated these cases; and the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted these cases.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMembers of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ice.gov\\/webform\\/ice-tip-form\\u0022\\u003Eonline tip form\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EA complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:57:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788389870\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:33:49-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788388429\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien With Five Deportations and Multiple Felony Convictions Charged for Illegal Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-five-deportations-and-multiple-felony-convictions-charged-illegal-reentry\",\"uuid\":\"6594284d-fd5f-4c87-964b-c278cf06dae0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBILLINGS \\u2013 A Bozeman man who was unlawfully carrying two loaded handguns was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\u0026nbsp;said.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJerron Micheal Mitchell-Fuller, 36, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Mitchell-Fuller, who had been convicted of multiple felonies in the early 2010s, was found walking near I-90 in Bozeman carrying two loaded handguns. Earlier in the day, Mitchell-Fuller had taken the cell phone of a man in Bozeman, who reported the theft to police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaw enforcement tracked down Mitchell-Fuller and interviewed him. He said he had absconded from federal supervised release in Billings and admitted to knowing that he wasn\\u2019t allowed to own or carry firearms. Mitchell-Fuller was previously convicted for theft in Montana and Idaho, for escaping custody while in Cascade County, and for possessing meth with the intent to distribute in Billings.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:40:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788388839\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\",\"name\":\"USAO - Montana\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:37:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788388624\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-225\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Bozeman man who was unlawfully carrying two loaded handguns was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Bozeman man sentenced to 4 years in prison for unlawfully carrying loaded handguns\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mt\\/pr\\/bozeman-man-sentenced-4-years-prison-unlawfully-carrying-loaded-handguns\",\"uuid\":\"662a4ff0-1c72-4c23-aab2-9653a456a473\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\u2013 A New York man was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAccording to court documents, Abu Khamza, 35, pled guilty in May 2026 to conspiring to launder into cryptocurrency over $572,000 in what he believed to be drug money in the belief that such cryptocurrency would be transmitted to mujahideen in Syria.\\u0026nbsp; Khamza believed that the funds were generated by the illicit sale of prescription drugs for which the pharmacy owner could sell legitimately for $8 but sell without a prescription for $500.\\u0026nbsp; Evidence introduced into Court showed that, besides laundering cash into crypto, Khamza also engaged in extortion, cargo theft, auto theft, pandemic relief fraud, and check fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael A. Burgwald, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office\\u0027s Counterterrorism Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York, FBI New York and Philadelphia Field Offices, and New York County District Attorney\\u0027s Office assisted in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacques Rio Singer-Emery, a Trial Attorney for the Justice Department\\u2019s National Security Division, prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-287.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:25:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788373525\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:24:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788373486\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAbu Khamza, 35, of New York, was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"New York man sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a2ef445b-5f6d-494b-bb3b-26e2254e95e0\",\"name\":\"Counterterrorism\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edva\\/pr\\/new-york-man-sentenced-five-years-prison-money-laundering-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"5fea6515-2271-4c31-9434-c82c51bc5d14\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460036\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"04bf1df2-35ab-4472-95bd-92aa8b6ee731\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EGREENVILLE, MS \\u2013 The Homeland Security Task Force initiative led to the investigation, prosecution and sentencing of Walter Walton, 34, of Coahoma County, Mississippi. Honorable Debra M. Brown, Chief United States District Court Judge, sentenced Walton today to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm after he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Defendant Walton pleaded guilty to these charges on an earlier date. A Taurus .357 caliber revolver was forfeited through a stipulated final order of forfeiture.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Coahoma County Sheriff\\u2019s Department investigated the case with assistance from the United States Marshal\\u2019s Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation and conviction are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating tin the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.\\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:07:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788383251\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\",\"name\":\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:59:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788375570\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"202609-02\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWalter Walton, 34, of Coahoma County, Mississippi, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charge of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460031\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/walton.jpg?itok=u6GQVYMo\\u0022 width=\\u00223072\\u0022 height=\\u00224080\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Photo of seized handgun\\u0022 title=\\u0022Forfeited handgun as a result of guilty plea\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted Felon Sentenced for Firearm Possession Part of Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndms\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-sentenced-firearm-possession-part-homeland-security-task-force\",\"uuid\":\"1cfb73cd-d983-417e-8563-fd4a6fc5b8d4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERENO \\u2013 A Reno man who was a naturalized U.S. citizen made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly lying about his prior criminal acts to obtain U.S. citizenship.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe integrity of our nation\\u0027s lawful immigration system relies entirely on honesty and transparency,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\u201cWhen individuals lie about a violent or fraudulent criminal history to secure the privileges of American citizenship, they violate federal law and disrespect the millions of immigrants who follow the legal process correctly. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who use deceit to obtain these sacred rights.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Lying on a citizenship application is a serious crime. Under the Trump administration, if you cheat to get U.S. citizenship, expect the consequences,\\u201d said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow. \\u0022U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is working closely with the Department of Justice to identify, denaturalize, and hold accountable those who unlawfully obtain U.S. citizenship.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Jesus King committed sexual assault in July 2017 and March 2018. In both instances, King forcibly penetrated his victims and used threats of physical harm to force his victims to perform sexual acts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged, on January 23, 2018, Kevin Jesus King submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that failed to disclose the July 2017 sexual assault and falsely denied having ever committed a criminal offense for which he was not arrested. On June 4, 2018, when King was interviewed under oath by a USCIS officer, he failed to disclose the July 2017 sexual assault, as well as the March 2018 sexual assault that had occurred just a few months earlier, and he again falsely denied having ever committed a criminal offense for which he was not arrested. Eleven days later, he obtained U.S. citizenship by naturalization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 25, 2024, King admitted to the July 2017 and March 2018 sexual assaults when he pleaded guilty to violating N.R.S. 200.366.2B in Nevada state court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKing, also known as \\u201cKevin Jesus Lopez Vargas,\\u201d \\u201cKevin Lopez-Vargas,\\u201d Kevin Lopez,\\u201d and \\u201cKevin Vagas,\\u201d was charged with one count of naturalization fraud. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for November 3, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUSCIS investigated the case. The District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T19:45:29-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788392729\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\",\"name\":\"USAO - Nevada\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T19:43:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788392633\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERENO \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA Reno man who was a naturalized U.S. citizen made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly lying about his prior criminal acts to obtain U.S. citizenship.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Naturalized U.S. Citizen Indicted for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Felonies\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nv\\/pr\\/naturalized-us-citizen-indicted-lying-obtain-us-citizenship-after-committing-felonies\",\"uuid\":\"d862c6f6-1e57-4bfc-b7c4-c486fa6bccd2\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoffrey Blac James, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that on June 23, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe crimes occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:27:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789061253\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-04T09:51:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788529897\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoffrey Blac James, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that on June 23, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty To Armed Assault\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/choctaw-county-resident-pleads-guilty-armed-assault\",\"uuid\":\"f50453e4-1ee2-4b5f-a2e3-4b3162ab1650\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Ismael Guerrero-Moya, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from his Waycross, Georgia prison cell. Four other members of the trafficking ring previously were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis illegal alien, who was serving a 30-year sentence for methamphetamine trafficking, orchestrated large-scale drug dealing using a contraband phone in state prison and a network of meth cooks and drug traffickers beyond prison walls,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cAs a result of seamless coordination of federal, state, and local authorities in the Homeland Security Task Force, Guerrero-Moya\\u2019s operation has been dismantled, and he is now headed to federal prison for 30 years without the possibility of parole.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case is a powerful example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local partners come together through the Homeland Security Task Force. Despite being incarcerated, this defendant continued coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cHSTF partnerships allow us to connect investigative resources, disrupt sophisticated trafficking networks, and ensure that those who threaten our communities are brought to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cGuerrero-Moya\\u2019s continued criminal activity from inside a state prison shows the persistent threat posed by transnational drug traffickers who exploit every opportunity to keep poisoning our communities,\\u201d said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. \\u201cUsing a contraband phone and outside criminal associates, he directed a methamphetamine trafficking network that moved hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs. HSI and our federal, state, and local partners will continue to target and dismantle these organizations wherever they operate to protect public safety and hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2012, a Superior Court judge in Fayette County, Georgia sentenced Guerrero-Moya to 30 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during commission of a felony. While serving his sentence in state prison, Guerrero-Moya used a contraband cell phone to resume his drug trafficking operation, with the assistance of Michael Childers, who used an auto repair shop to conceal methamphetamine in vehicles. In addition, Salvador Bolanos Villalpando and Jose Jovani Toledo operated a methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Ellenwood, Georgia on behalf of Guerrero-Moya. The organization also included Kamal Hussein Espinosa, a multi-kilogram methamphetamine dealer, who purchased methamphetamine from Guerrero-Moya while on parole for a prior drug trafficking conviction.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2020, federal investigators, working with state partners, dismantled Guerrero-Moya\\u2019s drug network through a series of seizures and arrests, taking over 500 pounds of methamphetamine off the street, including 150 pounds of methamphetamine seized from a residence in Ellenwood, Georgia, and 30 pounds of methamphetamine recovered from a vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EYesterday, Ismael Guerrero-Moya, 51, of Dieciocho de Marzo, Michoac\\u00e1n, Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Guerrero-Moya was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 10, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe following defendants were previously sentenced in this case:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e00c0000c0b7b3e4a1952b36f45321038\\u0022\\u003ESalvador Bolanos Villalpando, 56, of Buenavista Tomatl\\u00e1n, Michoac\\u00e1n, Mexico, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ef641ca44456ab9dc1784e98c2521759d\\u0022\\u003EJose Jovani Toledo, 36, of Torrance, California, was sentenced to six years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e4096ec3078775f664251f06e7594e630\\u0022\\u003EMichael Childers, 51, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e60e3b4e6964ce4db6ef02ef8cf1dff78\\u0022\\u003EKamal Hussein Espinosa, 44, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to fourteen years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security\\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Corrections, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Matthew R. LaGrone, and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons, prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:00:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788379241\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T15:54:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788378867\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EIsmael Guerrero-Moya, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from his Waycross, Georgia prison cell. Four other members of the trafficking ring previously were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Who Operated Large Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring from State Prison Sentenced to Federal Prison with Four Others\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-who-operated-large-methamphetamine-trafficking-ring-state-prison\",\"uuid\":\"b745fd7a-81f1-4995-a298-c40e8d2650b4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Chad Barclay pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a victim, Jane Doe #1.\\u0026nbsp; Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated that he kidnapped six additional women.\\u0026nbsp; The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.\\u0026nbsp;When sentenced, Barclay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years\\u2019 imprisonment and up to life in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cToday\\u2019s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking.\\u0026nbsp; We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division for their support, and the New York City Police Department for its assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,\\u201d stated Assistant Attorney General Duva. \\u0026nbsp;\\u201cThis prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChad Barclay\\u2019s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity. The FBI and NYPD\\u0027s joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions,\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs set forth in court filings and during today\\u2019s plea proceeding, on September 13, 2022, Barclay enticed Jane Doe #1, who he met on Eros, an online escort website, to travel from another state to his apartment in Brooklyn to engage in commercial sex.\\u0026nbsp; After arriving at his apartment, Barclay paid Jane Doe #1 approximately $1,500 in cash for sex.\\u0026nbsp; Barclay then used force to have sex with her without a condom and against her will.\\u0026nbsp; After raping Jane Doe #1, Barclay opened her purse and took the $1,500 he already paid her.\\u0026nbsp; In addition, he stole approximately $1,200 from the victim\\u2019s purse.\\u0026nbsp; Barclay asserted that Jane Doe #1 still owed him $1,500 for working on his turf, claiming that he \\u201cran\\u201d Brooklyn and was part of a \\u201cBrooklyn gang\\u201d so all the women in Brooklyn worked for him and had to pay him a \\u201ctax.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp; When Jane Doe #1 replied that she did not have any more money, Barclay laughed and said that she was going to have to \\u201cpay or you have to work for me or you die.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBarclay also warned Jane Doe #1 that his \\u201cguys\\u201d were in front of the building and they would kill her if she tried to leave.\\u0026nbsp; Barclay also confiscated her phone, forced her to unlock it with her face and reviewed the contents of her phone.\\u0026nbsp; After reviewing her phone, Barclay\\u0026nbsp;threatened Jane Doe #1 by stating that he knew where she lived and that she had a daughter.\\u0026nbsp; Barclay permitted her to leave after Jane Doe #1 stated that she sent a friend her location information and that her friend would call the police if she did not hear from Jane Doe #1 soon.\\u0026nbsp; Jane Doe #1 later reported the rape to local police and went to a hospital where a rape kit was performed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023.\\u0026nbsp; Barclay engaged in a similar pattern in which he enticed commercial sex workers to come to his apartment where he robbed and sexually assaulted most of the victims.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Andy Palacio and Lorena Michelen and Trial Attorney Olimpia Michel of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECHAD BARCLAY\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge:\\u0026nbsp;33\\u003Cbr\\u003EBrooklyn, New York\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-242 (S-1) (FB)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:46:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788389205\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:27:44-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788380864\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Chad Barclay pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a victim, Jane Doe #1.\\u0026nbsp; Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated that he kidnapped six additional women.\\u0026nbsp; The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.\\u0026nbsp;When sentenced, Barclay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years\\u2019 imprisonment and up to life in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Victim and Admits to Kidnapping Six Other Women\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6b68977d-e415-4bfb-b0c5-5fb180bebdf4\",\"name\":\"Human Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/brooklyn-man-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-victim-and-admits-kidnapping-six-other\",\"uuid\":\"9a56ee71-b8db-45de-b7d4-4012d4ee622b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETrinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDuring the plea hearing, Barclay admitted that on Sept. 13, 2022, he enticed the victim to his residence to engage in commercial sex, where he robbed and sexually assaulted her. As part of plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023. For targeting five victims, Barclay was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment with interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnapping, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding in August 2023. Barclay was charged with a sex trafficking count for one of the original five victims and interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnaping, and other related charges for two additional victims in a second superseding indictment in May 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\u201cThis prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. \\u201cToday\\u2019s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking. We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChad Barclay\\u2019s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity,\\u201d said Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle of the FBI\\u2019s New York Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI and NYPD\\u0027s joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBarclay faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI New York Field Office and the New York Police Department are investigating the case as part of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Olimpia E. Michel of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Palacio and Lorena Michelen for the Eastern District of New York and are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:39:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788385165\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"48a4c599-c2d1-4070-95dd-1f211453b3ad\",\"name\":\"Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:20:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788384047\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1013\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETrinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Trinidadian Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking in New York\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"6b68977d-e415-4bfb-b0c5-5fb180bebdf4\",\"name\":\"Human Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/trinidadian-foreign-national-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-new-york\",\"uuid\":\"6e131ff5-251e-4f02-b96d-c3aab1fe4f9b\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\u2013 A federal jury in Charlotte returned a guilty verdict today against William Stanley, 25, and Heather Morrow, 45, both of Charlotte, for impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties of government employees; failure to comply with the lawful direction of an authorized individual; and obstructing the entrance on a federal property. Morrow was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with federal officers performing their official duties. Stanley was found not guilty of that offense. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew E. Orso presided over the trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on November 16, 2025, Morrow and Stanley, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE\\/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building\\u2019s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow\\u2019s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460091\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/d03\\/public\\/2026-09\\/cones.jpg?itok=eyNfgbyq\\u0022 width=\\u0022300\\u0022 height=\\u0022488\\u0022 alt=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\u0022 title=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460101\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/d03\\/public\\/2026-09\\/vehicle.jpg?itok=wdb1juf8\\u0022 width=\\u0022300\\u0022 height=\\u0022492\\u0022 alt=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\u0022 title=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial evidence further established that Stanley and Morrow\\u2019s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer\\u2019s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer\\u2019s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460106\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/d03\\/public\\/2026-09\\/stanley.jpg?itok=vQPYIrUo\\u0022 width=\\u0022300\\u0022 height=\\u0022505\\u0022 alt=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\u0022 title=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460096\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/d03\\/public\\/2026-09\\/morrow.jpg?itok=5zIssUN2\\u0022 width=\\u0022300\\u0022 height=\\u0022527\\u0022 alt=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \\u0022 title=\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged attesting to place Stanley in custody.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendants were released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Smith and Caryn Finley prosecuted the case\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T20:10:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788394210\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\",\"name\":\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T18:47:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788389255\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460091\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"0e16e211-0789-42a2-84e5-6f3756b8199f\"},\"alt\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \",\"title\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460096\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"04e46019-6d8a-4ad1-b8ee-720d20127912\"},\"alt\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \",\"title\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460101\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"94601a0a-596d-44a4-b1ed-db1ad0d5d83d\"},\"alt\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \",\"title\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460106\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7f445ab3-3e94-4fd0-800d-39d4cb7122a0\"},\"alt\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \",\"title\":\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Federal Jury Convicts Man and Woman of Interfering with Federal Officers Performing Official Duties and Related Offenses \",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdnc\\/pr\\/federal-jury-convicts-man-and-woman-interfering-federal-officers-performing-official\",\"uuid\":\"ef742d0c-e9a6-4790-a155-ceb4c5248b5d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia,\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced\\u0026nbsp;today in U.S. District Court\\u0026nbsp;to\\u0026nbsp;50\\u0026nbsp;months in prison\\u0026nbsp;in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u202f\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPonson pleaded guilty\\u0026nbsp;on May 29\\u0026nbsp;before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interfe [...truncated 13350 characters...] ally significant items are more than objects, they are a connection to history, traditions, and identity,\\u201d said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. \\u201cWe are honored to help return these items to their rightful home and uphold the federal government\\u2019s commitment to protecting the heritage and sovereignty of the Osage Nation.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe remaining archaeological materials will be handled using appropriate cultural resource protocols to ensure respectful treatment and disposition in accordance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe civil forfeiture action was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick in coordination with a related criminal prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Barnes and Cari Walsh. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly made the recovery and restoration of these artifacts possible.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:59:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788386393\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T15:43:14-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788378194\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that a collection of culturally significant Native American artifacts has been returned to the Osage Nation after the conclusion of a civil forfeiture action involving items unlawfully removed from federal lands near Harry S. Truman Lake.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office Returns Culturally Significant Artifacts to Osage Nation Following Civil Forfeiture Judgment\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/us-attorneys-office-returns-culturally-significant-artifacts-osage-nation-following\",\"uuid\":\"9eb7098d-5307-4950-aa0d-472c8919964c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, a district court judge sentenced an East St. Louis man to 15 years of federal imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm. This was the maximum sentence allowable by law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, was\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/jury-convicts-prior-felon-unlawful-possession-firearm\\u0022\\u003Efound guilty by a federal jury in May\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Bradley has several prior criminal convictions, including a state conviction for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis convicted murderer got out of state prison and carried a loaded gun, modified to function as a machine gun, through a public housing complex,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cWe did not plead this case out. We tried it, the jury spoke, and he got the maximum sentence in federal prison. As he should.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe evidence presented at trial revealed that in October 2024 Bradley was observed possessing a firearm by law enforcement officers during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis. The firearm was loaded with fourteen rounds of ammunition and had a machinegun conversion device installed. In October 2024, Bradley was under federal supervised release for a prior firearms offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBecause of the persistence of the Illinois State Police and our partners getting guns and dangerous criminals off the street, this convicted felon will spend years in a federal prison,\\u201d said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cConvicted felons who repeatedly break the law threaten public safety and the Illinois State Police will continue to dedicate resources to protect our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing imprisonment, Bradley will serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:42:52-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788385372\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:34:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788384885\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Previously Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 15-Year Maximum for New Federal Gun Crime\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/previously-convicted-murderer-sentenced-15-year-maximum-new-federal-gun-crime\",\"uuid\":\"b92725a8-24e0-43fb-9023-4f2e4af47df2\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ELAREDO, Texas \\u2013 A 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERolando Soliz pleaded guilty Sept. 16, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Soliz to serve 110 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing Sept. 1, the court heard additional evidence to include details about Soliz\\u2019s extensive criminal history as well as his possession of large amounts of cash and 10 different firearms, one of which was a short-barreled rifle converted to operate as a machine gun. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kazen noted his conviction was for distributing fentanyl during a time when it was killing more and more people in the community. He also noted his extensive criminal history including four prior felony convictions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation, which began July 11, 2024, indicated Soliz had been engaged in multiple transactions involving fentanyl in the Laredo area.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaw enforcement set up surveillance at Soliz\\u2019s apartment and witnessed multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions. A subsequent traffic stop resulted in the discovery of fentanyl that had been obtained from Soliz at his residence.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 31, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Soliz\\u2019s apartment and discovered 24.8 grams of fentanyl inside a toilet bowl. They had also searched his mother\\u2019s residence. As a result of the warrants at both locations, law enforcement seized the drugs, over $16,000 in cash, and multiple firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESoliz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Webb County District Attorney\\u2019s Office; and Webb County Constables Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T13:06:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788368805\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T12:59:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788368382\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Firearm-wielding fentanyl dealer sentenced to over 100 months\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/firearm-wielding-fentanyl-dealer-sentenced-over-100-months\",\"uuid\":\"19a550ce-fbc1-4371-96c6-871920cffb16\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 A Tulsa man was indicted on several counts related to sexually assaulting women and is now detained,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003Epending trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDeleon Milford Cooks, 24, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with two counts of \\u003Cem\\u003EAggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country\\u003C\\/em\\u003E; two counts of \\u003Cem\\u003EAssault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country\\u003C\\/em\\u003E; one count of \\u003Cem\\u003ECarrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence\\u003C\\/em\\u003E; two counts of \\u003Cem\\u003EAssault of an Intimate\\/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country\\u003C\\/em\\u003E; and one count of \\u003Cem\\u003ESexual Abuse without Consent in Indian Country.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents show that Cooks is indicted for knowingly forcing two victims to engage in sexual activity and placing them in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping. He is accused of assaulting both victims with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Cooks also strangled both victims and engaged in a sexual act with one victim without her consent.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Deleon Milford Cooks. The FBI believes he primarily targeted women from 2023 through 2026. If you were victimized by Deleon Milford Cooks or have information relevant to this investigation, \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.fbi.gov\\/how-we-can-help-you\\/victim-services\\/seeking-victim-information\\/seeking-victim-information-in-deleon-cooks-investigation\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Eplease fill out the Seeking Information Questionnaire\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003Ethe case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ecourt of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T09:10:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788354639\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-01T14:43:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788288187\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Tulsa man was indicted on several counts related to sexually assaulting women and is now detained, pending trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Tulsa Man Indicted for Sexual Assault and the FBI is Seeking to Identify Potential Victims\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\",\"name\":\"Indian Country Law and Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/tulsa-man-indicted-sexual-assault-and-fbi-seeking-identify-potential-victims\",\"uuid\":\"c0a3555d-a0a5-49d5-b083-ef73417262a7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\u2013 A Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBryan Isiah Thomas was previously charged in a two-count indictment filed in the Western District of Missouri on July 21, 2026. A federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. returned a superseding indictment today alleging that Thomas distributed fentanyl in Cole County on three separate occasions in March\\u0026nbsp; 2026, including one occasion where the fentanyl caused the death of another.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan T. Duenckel. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Callaway County Sheriff\\u2019s Office.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:45:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788385533\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T17:41:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788385318\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBryan Isiah Thomas, 37 Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jefferson City Man Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdmo\\/pr\\/jefferson-city-man-indicted-distribution-fentanyl-resulting-death\",\"uuid\":\"56740ddf-6216-422f-99d6-5e843adccea6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marco Laboy-Torres, age 47, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 1, 2026, to 144 months\\u2019 imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Laboy-Torres was sentenced for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy where over five kilograms of cocaine were delivered by mail from Puerto Rico and trafficked in York.\\u0026nbsp; Laboy-Torres also possessed a short-barreled firearm in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ELaboy-Torres previously pled guilty for his role in the conspiracy. Robert Nelson, age 62, York, and Luis Valentin-Hernandez, age 50, York, are charged for their roles in the conspiracy. Both defendants are pending trial in November 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788373827\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T14:29:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788373765\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"York Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy And Firearms\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/york-man-sentenced-12-years-prison-cocaine-trafficking-conspiracy-and-firearms\",\"uuid\":\"e5440e22-4bbf-442c-a9eb-26beb8412f4f\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJackson, TN \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Lytrice Adams, 36\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp; D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking operation in Hardin County, Tennessee. \\u0026nbsp;During the investigation, agents utilized controlled purchases of methamphetamine, Title III wiretaps, and other investigative tactics. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUsing wiretap interceptions, agents identified Alveto Higgins\\u2014who was then residing in Middle Tennessee\\u2014as the supplier of the operation. \\u0026nbsp;The controlled purchases were made from Adams and Higgins at Adams\\u2019s residence in Savannah.\\u0026nbsp; Agents were ultimately able to purchase over 350 grams of actual methamphetamine from Adams and Higgins.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollowing her guilty plea to distributing methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Adams to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u0026nbsp; Higgins has also pled guilty in this case, and he will be sentenced later this year.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, \\u0022Using various methods, techniques, sources, and strategies, we are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations. Drug dealers can no longer hide in any part of the Western District of Tennessee, and this sentence demonstrates our commitment to remove poison peddlers from our streets.\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDrug dealers like Lytrice Adams, who poison our communities and display little to no empathy for their victims, should expect to meet the full weight of our justice system,\\u201d said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThe lengthy sentence handed down today should give Ms. Adams time to reflect on her criminal actions and hopefully she\\u2019ll come out of prison a better person.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EFor more information, please contact the media relations team at \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EUSATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E. Follow the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\/CL0\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2Fa9UhD2Prx8nIY-6djnGphQDbShTcuPoA1ztwg7nk7Fg=429\\/1\\/010101a063b59319-e434b725-c3c5-44d9-a9de-3ab39cc6a016-000000\\/ecJaEskaVd38BknpLA3QMBme3SyLHTGv8OzHzkKbMDM=452\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Eon Facebook\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E or \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\/CL0\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fprotect2.fireeye.com%252Fv1%252Furl%253Fk=1ccf5694-7982ef19-1cc87271-74fe48680e18-429ea4c66a6734da%2526q=1%2526e=160013ce-d024-44a4-8061-4f5534e7d3ee%2526u=https%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwitter.com%25252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2FamSIP6DtqegVIpgurWZC34y6s_PeEiF-k7QfKo-xkgA=429\\/1\\/010101a063b59319-e434b725-c3c5-44d9-a9de-3ab39cc6a016-000000\\/6YIdwiwpTVJ6xWimGuALh_PNWrFC1sAXq8GfVzy_iNw=452\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Eon X\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:13:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788380013\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"09ab4078-eaac-4d82-8ebf-cf84fb74f272\",\"name\":\"USAO - Tennessee, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-02T16:09:07-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788379747\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788350400\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJackson, TN \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;Lytrice Adams, 36\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp; D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a...\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hardin County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdtn\\/pr\\/hardin-county-woman-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-distributing-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"954f33c7-b1b2-45ec-8c93-f13e2ea7f866\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJackson, MS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 On September 2, 2026, a Pearl River man pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Benjamin E. Stephens, 43, embezzled approximately $200,000 from the Choctaw Rental Housing Program while working as an employee of the Tribal program. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Robert Eikhoff, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Jackson Office, made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EStephens is scheduled to be sent [...truncated]

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01PedipR1BxTU7XkvHV1RjAS, 3 events)

tools_started web_fetch t=118194.322

Inner payload

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tools_progress web_fetch t=118194.323

Inner payload

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tools_completed web_fetch t=118194.324

Inner payload

{
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  "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":10},\\\"executionTime\\\":1.5228471755981445},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EZachary Babitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was sentenced to life plus 26 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024, including the fatal shooting of an 83-year-old Santa Fe man during a carjacking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, between July 30 and August 10, 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 40, committed a series of armed robberies, carjackings and a fatal shooting across Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Do\\\\u00f1a Ana counties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s crime spree began on July 30, 2024, when he entered an AutoZone in Albuquerque armed with a handgun, demanded money from an employee and stole approximately $345. The following day, he robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Albuquerque by presenting a demand note and indicating he was armed, obtaining approximately $3,300.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 3, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E robbed a Jersey Mike\\\\u2019s restaurant at gunpoint, taking cash from the register and forcing an employee to open a safe where additional money was stolen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 6, 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E committed a carjacking in Santa Fe County during which he confronted 83-year-old John Doe with a firearm. When Doe offered resistance, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E shot him, rifled through his pockets for the vehicle keys and left him in a parking lot. Doe later died from his injuries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEven after the killing, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E continued his violent crime spree. On August 9, he carried out another carjacking in Bernalillo County, knocking the victim unconscious. On August 10 in Las Cruces, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and an accomplice robbed an Arby\\\\u2019s restaurant at gunpoint, stealing cash, and later that same day participated in another armed carjacking in which they forced a victim from a vehicle at gunpoint. While fleeing from law enforcement, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E crashed the stolen vehicle and was found hiding in a nearby dumpster.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was on state probation for six robberies committed in Albuquerque and had a lengthy history of violent felony convictions. His adult criminal record dates to 2004 and includes armed carjackings in Nevada and California, including an incident in which he fired a gun while attempting to steal a woman\\\\u2019s purse. After moving to New Mexico, he was convicted in 2018 for a series of six robberies committed over several weeks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was charged by federal indictment with 13 counts arising from the 2024 crime spree. On October 22, 2025, the United States filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. On April 17, 2026, Babitz and the United States entered into a binding plea agreement calling for a sentence of life imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBabitz pleaded guilty to all 13 counts of the indictment, including two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use and possession of a firearm, one count of carjacking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting, one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the FBI\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office, Santa Fe Police Department, Albuquerque Police Department and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:40:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788381618\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:34:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788377673\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-258\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EZachary Babitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was sentenced to life plus 26 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024, including the fatal shooting of an 83-year-old Santa Fe man during a carjacking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Zachary Babitz Sentenced to Life in Prison for Armed Robbery and Carjacking Crime Spree That Ended in Fatal Shooting\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/zachary-babitz-sentenced-life-prison-armed-robbery-and-carjacking-crime-spree-ended\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6291454d-8386-4519-a906-72d41be4554d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELONDON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EFranklin Delano Campbell, 67, was sentenced on Wednesday to 236 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith, on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine (powder) and cocaine base (crack).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed that, beginning sometime around January 2022, and continuing through November 2025, Campbell was regularly obtaining one-half to one-kilogram quantities of powder cocaine from and out-of-state source of supply. Campbell would then turn a large portion of this cocaine into crack, which he would sell to various upper-, mid-, and low-level drug traffickers, as well as end drug users in the Perry County, Kentucky area. Campbell and his co-conspirators sold the majority of these drugs from his home in the Bonnyman, Kentucky. Campbell paid others in drugs and\\\\/or money to drive to Ohio and meet with his source to pick up these drugs and bring them back to Kentucky.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As part of his plea, Campbell forfeited several pieces of real property, two vehicles, multiple firearms, and approximately $119,684.00 in U.S. currency that were seized as part of the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder federal law, Campbell must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys W. Samuel Dotson and Haley Trogden McCauley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:29:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380943\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:26:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380819\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Perry County Man Sentenced for Trafficking Powder and Crack Cocaine\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/perry-county-man-sentenced-trafficking-powder-and-crack-cocaine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b9ab1f3b-6c97-45d4-9dae-ba548e42a226\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\\\u2013 An illegal alien from Cuba was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Tuesday to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Robyn Argote-Brooks, 26, of Havana, Cuba, used his vehicle to damage an SUV and a sedan, both of which were property of the United States and maintained by ICE. The amount of damage to each vehicle exceeded $1,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EArgote-Brooks was arrested and charged via complaint with one count of destruction of government property. An indictment filed Feb. 4 added a second destruction of government property count as well as a charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer. On May 8, a federal jury convicted Argote-Brooks of both destruction of government property counts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Argote-Brooks to 10 months in federal prison for each count, which will run concurrently. Biery also ordered three years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment, and $9,767 in restitution for the damages.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Walker and Todd Keagle prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener noreferrer\\\\u0022 data-interception=\\\\u0022off\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T10:50:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788360609\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T10:46:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788360409\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERobyn Argote-Brooks, an illegal alien from Cuba, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Judge Orders Illegal Alien to Pay Nearly $10,000 and Serve Prison Time for Ramming ICE Vehicles in January \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-judge-orders-illegal-alien-pay-nearly-10000-and-serve-prison-time-ramming-ice\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0f7c1ba-4e5a-47a5-b517-d9c1b8fe3f07\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETYLER, Texas \\\\u2013 A Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDennis Smith, 66, was named in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2026, charging him with coercion and enticement, attempted production of child pornography with intent to transport to the United States, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; Smith was arrested in Tyler on September 2, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in federal court on September 3, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on various dates in 2019 and 2022, Smith is alleged to have committed numerous offenses involving minor victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;faces life\\\\u0026nbsp;in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, the Smith County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Smith County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Richards and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.\\\\u0026nbsp; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:57:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788379038\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:52:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788378725\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Smith County man arrested, charged with child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/smith-county-man-arrested-charged-child-exploitation-violations-eastern-district-texas\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d2b73a10-e4cf-486a-9c23-92ec06e98977\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERaul Torres-Olivarez, 47, from Mexico, who was illegally residing in the United States pled guilty on August 19, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence at the plea hearing, showed that on February 4, 2026, law enforcement had information that Torres-Olivarez was unlawfully in the United States and was residing in Sioux City, Iowa.\\\\u0026nbsp; Immigration officials observed an individual matching the description of Torres-Olivarez leaving a residence and entering a vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; Officers attempted to traffic stop the vehicle driven by Torres-Olivarez, but he failed to immediately stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; The officers were operating in unmarked vehicles, and Torres-Olivarez\\\\u2019s vehicle struck one of the unmarked law enforcement vehicles.\\\\u0026nbsp; After Torres-Olivarez\\\\u2019s vehicle stopped, he attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETorres-Olivarez was previously removed from the United States to Mexico on or about December 1, 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\\\u0026nbsp; Torres-Olivarez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Torres-Olivarez faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4006.\\\\u0026nbsp; Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:41:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374462\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:40:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374400\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-man-pleads-guilty-illegal-reentry-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99af35be-cf47-4ff2-a715-0d6fdedc721c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Richeline Anisso Fung, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and formerly of Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims while working as a full-time employee for the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS-CISA), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRicheline Fung stole a quarter\\\\u2011million dollars from the American taxpayer, and today she stands as a convicted felon who will be required to pay full restitution,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\\\u201cLet this be unmistakable: if you defraud the American\\\\u0026nbsp;people,\\\\u0026nbsp;federal agents will come knocking.\\\\u0026nbsp;Nationwide initiatives across federal agencies are rapidly detecting, rooting out, and prosecuting wrongdoing to protect every taxpayer dollar as part of President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Sparkle Sooknanan accepted Fung\\\\u2019s guilty plea\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;scheduled sentencing for\\\\u0026nbsp;Jan.\\\\u0026nbsp;20, 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cNo profession is immune from prosecution,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cRicheline Fung abused her positions as a federal employee and government contractor to steal nearly $250,000 from the U.S. government. Public service is a public trust, not an opportunity to defraud American taxpayers. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds the United States, regardless of title or agency.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents,\\\\u0026nbsp;Fung was a full-time DHS-CISA employee between September 2016 and October 2025. She lived in Maryland when she started working for DHS-CISA but moved to Florida. Between January 2021 and August 2024, Fung\\\\u0026nbsp;served in multiple federal government contractor positions despite being a full-time U.S. government employee with DHS-CISA. She worked as a contractor for the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She served in these positions as a direct employee or as an independent contractor\\\\/consultant through her business RAF Pro-Consulting, LLC, which she incorporated in Florida in 2020.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with her employment, Fung\\\\u0026nbsp;submitted\\\\u0026nbsp;timesheets certifying the number of hours she worked each pay period. Fung routinely overstated those hours, even claiming to work more than 24 hours in a single day on multiple occasions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor example, in February 2022, Fung was employed by DHS-CISA and three different federal contractors performing work for USDA, FHWA, and DOJ. For that month alone, Fung\\\\u2019s combined hours totaled more than 24 hours in a single day on 15 occasions. Shockingly, she claimed to work 33 hours on February 7, 8, 9, and 10, and 32 hours on February 11.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFung admitted that she concealed her employment with DHS-CISA and the federal contractors from each other. She also acknowledged that she was able to conceal her employment because she teleworked\\\\u0026nbsp;for\\\\u0026nbsp;all\\\\u0026nbsp;the\\\\u0026nbsp;positions during the relevant period.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFung also admitted that her criminal conduct caused the U.S. government to suffer a loss of\\\\u0026nbsp;nearly a\\\\u0026nbsp;quarter million dollars. As part of her plea agreement, she must pay full restitution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Offices of the Inspector General for AmeriCorps, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the FBI Washington Field Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President JD Vance to\\\\u0026nbsp;eliminate\\\\u0026nbsp;fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E26cr177\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:43:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374597\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:34:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374083\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERicheline Anisso Fung, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and formerly of Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims while working as a full-time employee for the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS-CISA), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Homeland Security Employee Pleads Guilty in $250,000 Fraud Scheme \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/former-homeland-security-employee-pleads-guilty-250000-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"13aa156c-0380-4bda-8785-78d3489e8a9c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2014 A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMichael Moore lied to his clients and lied to the IRS all while lining his own pockets,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cTo conceal his involvement in his criminal conduct, Mr. Moore impermissibly used a former employee\\\\u2019s identity to file fraudulent returns. Return preparers like Mr. Moore who abuse their clients\\\\u2019 trust and undermine the integrity of the internal revenue laws will continue to be brought to justice by the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section, our U.S. Attorneys, and our law enforcement partners like IRS-CI.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message that those who manufacture fake wage records for personal enrichment will face severe federal prison time,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMoore\\\\u2019s schemes were designed to cheat the tax system while shifting the resulting burden onto law abiding taxpayers,\\\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe of the IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence underscores that IRS-CI will aggressively pursue those who exploit the tax system for personal gain, and it should serve as a reminder that financial crimes carry serious consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 through 2025, Michael J. Moore, of Las Vegas, was a former CPA who operated a tax preparation, bookkeeping and accounting business that advertised itself as specializing in clients from the adult entertainment industry. Moore promoted a fraudulent tax avoidance scheme called the \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy.\\\\u201d As part of the scheme, Moore promised clients that in exchange for a fee he could prepare a tax return that eliminated the taxes they owed to the IRS and, in most cases, create a large tax refund. The fees Moore required as part of this \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy\\\\u201d were paid by the clients using the refund money received from the IRS. In many instances, clients were required to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo carry out the \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy,\\\\u201d Moore made up false and fraudulent entries on the clients\\\\u2019 tax returns. In many cases, he did this by including on the returns false business expenses frequently amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. In some instances, Moore prepared and filed the tax returns using a former employee\\\\u2019s name and personal identifying information without their permission or knowledge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter he had been charged for his role in the \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy,\\\\u201d Moore engaged in a separate scheme involving preparation of false returns for clients. As part of this second scheme, Moore again reported totally false items on client tax returns. In the second scheme, Moore typically reported false losses from one or more corporate entities, most of which were defunct, dormant or carried on no business. These reported losses were false because the clients had not incurred these expenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn total, Moore caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $3.5 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMoore pleaded guilty to one count each of tax evasion, helping a client file a false tax return, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Patrick Burns of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:43:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385399\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:41:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385290\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2014 A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nevada Man Sentenced to Prison for False Tax Return Schemes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/nevada-man-sentenced-prison-false-tax-return-schemes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9f36c0d0-f5d6-4e0a-9f80-2f8629d2e892\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBEAUMONT, Texas \\\\u2013 A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDarrell Joshua Bendy, 42, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, from December 2022 through November 2024, Bendy supplied kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a drug trafficker in Beaumont.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the conspiracy, Bendy lived in, and conducted his drug trafficking activities from Houston.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $100,000 in cash.\\\\u0026nbsp; It is believed that between 20-30 kilograms of methamphetamine have been distributed as part of this drug trafficking conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;case is\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; Jefferson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office; Beaumont Police Department; Port Neches Police Department; Harris County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office; Vidor Police Department; and the Orange County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Lee and John B. Ross.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:43:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:21:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788387710\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Beaumont man receives 40 year federal prison sentence as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/beaumont-man-receives-40-year-federal-prison-sentence-part-homeland-security-task\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d71974e-c324-41d1-9333-75bbb227bee5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 2020 and December 2021, Goodsell, then approximately 35 years old, was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor girl, who was 16 years and 17 years old. During that time, Goodsell used a cellular device to record videos while they were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In June 2022, Goodsell distributed multiple videos of that conduct through Facebook Messenger.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Colleen M. McCarthy are handling the prosecution of the case. The plea is the result of an investigation by\\\\u0026nbsp;the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O\\\\u2019Grady, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional Assistance was provided by the Pittsburgh Office of the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:15:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788390916\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:13:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788390832\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Wellsville man who had sex with a minor pleads guilty to distributing videos\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/wellsville-man-who-had-sex-minor-pleads-guilty-distributing-videos\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b702c503-cc82-45fc-bfcf-6f2ec40b8590\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRepeat criminal offenders who treat our nation\\\\u0027s borders as a revolving door will face the full weight of federal prosecution,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cUnder Title 8 of the United States Code, unlawful reentry after a previous deportation\\\\u2014particularly following aggravated felony convictions\\\\u2014constitutes a federal felony carrying substantial prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMilton Daniel Lopez-Bonilla is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Rodriguez-Betanco is a citizen and national of Guatemala who was previously deported five times: October 5, 1998, February 6, 1999, May 12, 2004, February 5, 2008, and July 10, 2020, and reentered the United States illegally.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Lopez-Bonilla into custody after he was arrested in Reno, Nevada, on a prostitution-related charge. This will be Lopez-Bonilla\\\\u2019s third prosecution for illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Lopez-Bonilla faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated these cases; and the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted these cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMembers of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ice.gov\\\\/webform\\\\/ice-tip-form\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eonline tip form\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EA complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:57:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389870\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:33:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788388429\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien With Five Deportations and Multiple Felony Convictions Charged for Illegal Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-five-deportations-and-multiple-felony-convictions-charged-illegal-reentry\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6594284d-fd5f-4c87-964b-c278cf06dae0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBILLINGS \\\\u2013 A Bozeman man who was unlawfully carrying two loaded handguns was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJerron Micheal Mitchell-Fuller, 36, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Mitchell-Fuller, who had been convicted of multiple felonies in the early 2010s, was found walking near I-90 in Bozeman carrying two loaded handguns. Earlier in the day, Mitchell-Fuller had taken the cell phone of a man in Bozeman, who reported the theft to police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaw enforcement tracked down Mitchell-Fuller and interviewed him. He said he had absconded from federal supervised release in Billings and admitted to knowing that he wasn\\\\u2019t allowed to own or carry firearms. Mitchell-Fuller was previously convicted for theft in Montana and Idaho, for escaping custody while in Cascade County, and for possessing meth with the intent to distribute in Billings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:40:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788388839\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:37:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788388624\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-225\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Bozeman man who was unlawfully carrying two loaded handguns was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Bozeman man sentenced to 4 years in prison for unlawfully carrying loaded handguns\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/bozeman-man-sentenced-4-years-prison-unlawfully-carrying-loaded-handguns\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"662a4ff0-1c72-4c23-aab2-9653a456a473\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\\\u2013 A New York man was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Abu Khamza, 35, pled guilty in May 2026 to conspiring to launder into cryptocurrency over $572,000 in what he believed to be drug money in the belief that such cryptocurrency would be transmitted to mujahideen in Syria.\\\\u0026nbsp; Khamza believed that the funds were generated by the illicit sale of prescription drugs for which the pharmacy owner could sell legitimately for $8 but sell without a prescription for $500.\\\\u0026nbsp; Evidence introduced into Court showed that, besides laundering cash into crypto, Khamza also engaged in extortion, cargo theft, auto theft, pandemic relief fraud, and check fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael A. Burgwald, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office\\\\u0027s Counterterrorism Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York, FBI New York and Philadelphia Field Offices, and New York County District Attorney\\\\u0027s Office assisted in the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacques Rio Singer-Emery, a Trial Attorney for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Security Division, prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-287.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:25:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373525\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:24:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373486\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAbu Khamza, 35, of New York, was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New York man sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a2ef445b-5f6d-494b-bb3b-26e2254e95e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Counterterrorism\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/new-york-man-sentenced-five-years-prison-money-laundering-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5fea6515-2271-4c31-9434-c82c51bc5d14\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460036\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"04bf1df2-35ab-4472-95bd-92aa8b6ee731\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREENVILLE, MS \\\\u2013 The Homeland Security Task Force initiative led to the investigation, prosecution and sentencing of Walter Walton, 34, of Coahoma County, Mississippi. Honorable Debra M. Brown, Chief United States District Court Judge, sentenced Walton today to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm after he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Defendant Walton pleaded guilty to these charges on an earlier date. A Taurus .357 caliber revolver was forfeited through a stipulated final order of forfeiture.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Coahoma County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department investigated the case with assistance from the United States Marshal\\\\u2019s Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis operation and conviction are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.\\\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating tin the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.\\\\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:07:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788383251\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:59:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788375570\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"202609-02\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWalter Walton, 34, of Coahoma County, Mississippi, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charge of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460031\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/walton.jpg?itok=u6GQVYMo\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00223072\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00224080\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Photo of seized handgun\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Forfeited handgun as a result of guilty plea\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convicted Felon Sentenced for Firearm Possession Part of Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndms\\\\/pr\\\\/convicted-felon-sentenced-firearm-possession-part-homeland-security-task-force\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1cfb73cd-d983-417e-8563-fd4a6fc5b8d4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERENO \\\\u2013 A Reno man who was a naturalized U.S. citizen made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly lying about his prior criminal acts to obtain U.S. citizenship.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe integrity of our nation\\\\u0027s lawful immigration system relies entirely on honesty and transparency,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cWhen individuals lie about a violent or fraudulent criminal history to secure the privileges of American citizenship, they violate federal law and disrespect the millions of immigrants who follow the legal process correctly. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who use deceit to obtain these sacred rights.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Lying on a citizenship application is a serious crime. Under the Trump administration, if you cheat to get U.S. citizenship, expect the consequences,\\\\u201d said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow. \\\\u0022U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is working closely with the Department of Justice to identify, denaturalize, and hold accountable those who unlawfully obtain U.S. citizenship.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Jesus King committed sexual assault in July 2017 and March 2018. In both instances, King forcibly penetrated his victims and used threats of physical harm to force his victims to perform sexual acts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged, on January 23, 2018, Kevin Jesus King submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that failed to disclose the July 2017 sexual assault and falsely denied having ever committed a criminal offense for which he was not arrested. On June 4, 2018, when King was interviewed under oath by a USCIS officer, he failed to disclose the July 2017 sexual assault, as well as the March 2018 sexual assault that had occurred just a few months earlier, and he again falsely denied having ever committed a criminal offense for which he was not arrested. Eleven days later, he obtained U.S. citizenship by naturalization.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 25, 2024, King admitted to the July 2017 and March 2018 sexual assaults when he pleaded guilty to violating N.R.S. 200.366.2B in Nevada state court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKing, also known as \\\\u201cKevin Jesus Lopez Vargas,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cKevin Lopez-Vargas,\\\\u201d Kevin Lopez,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cKevin Vagas,\\\\u201d was charged with one count of naturalization fraud. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for November 3, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUSCIS investigated the case. The District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:45:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788392729\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:43:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788392633\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERENO \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Reno man who was a naturalized U.S. citizen made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly lying about his prior criminal acts to obtain U.S. citizenship.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Naturalized U.S. Citizen Indicted for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Felonies\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/naturalized-us-citizen-indicted-lying-obtain-us-citizenship-after-committing-felonies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d862c6f6-1e57-4bfc-b7c4-c486fa6bccd2\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoffrey Blac James, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that on June 23, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe crimes occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:27:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789061253\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:51:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788529897\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoffrey Blac James, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that on June 23, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty To Armed Assault\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/choctaw-county-resident-pleads-guilty-armed-assault\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f50453e4-1ee2-4b5f-a2e3-4b3162ab1650\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Ismael Guerrero-Moya, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from his Waycross, Georgia prison cell. Four other members of the trafficking ring previously were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis illegal alien, who was serving a 30-year sentence for methamphetamine trafficking, orchestrated large-scale drug dealing using a contraband phone in state prison and a network of meth cooks and drug traffickers beyond prison walls,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cAs a result of seamless coordination of federal, state, and local authorities in the Homeland Security Task Force, Guerrero-Moya\\\\u2019s operation has been dismantled, and he is now headed to federal prison for 30 years without the possibility of parole.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case is a powerful example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local partners come together through the Homeland Security Task Force. Despite being incarcerated, this defendant continued coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cHSTF partnerships allow us to connect investigative resources, disrupt sophisticated trafficking networks, and ensure that those who threaten our communities are brought to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cGuerrero-Moya\\\\u2019s continued criminal activity from inside a state prison shows the persistent threat posed by transnational drug traffickers who exploit every opportunity to keep poisoning our communities,\\\\u201d said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. \\\\u201cUsing a contraband phone and outside criminal associates, he directed a methamphetamine trafficking network that moved hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs. HSI and our federal, state, and local partners will continue to target and dismantle these organizations wherever they operate to protect public safety and hold offenders accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2012, a Superior Court judge in Fayette County, Georgia sentenced Guerrero-Moya to 30 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during commission of a felony. While serving his sentence in state prison, Guerrero-Moya used a contraband cell phone to resume his drug trafficking operation, with the assistance of Michael Childers, who used an auto repair shop to conceal methamphetamine in vehicles. In addition, Salvador Bolanos Villalpando and Jose Jovani Toledo operated a methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Ellenwood, Georgia on behalf of Guerrero-Moya. The organization also included Kamal Hussein Espinosa, a multi-kilogram methamphetamine dealer, who purchased methamphetamine from Guerrero-Moya while on parole for a prior drug trafficking conviction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn March 2020, federal investigators, working with state partners, dismantled Guerrero-Moya\\\\u2019s drug network through a series of seizures and arrests, taking over 500 pounds of methamphetamine off the street, including 150 pounds of methamphetamine seized from a residence in Ellenwood, Georgia, and 30 pounds of methamphetamine recovered from a vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYesterday, Ismael Guerrero-Moya, 51, of Dieciocho de Marzo, Michoac\\\\u00e1n, Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Guerrero-Moya was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 10, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were previously sentenced in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e00c0000c0b7b3e4a1952b36f45321038\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESalvador Bolanos Villalpando, 56, of Buenavista Tomatl\\\\u00e1n, Michoac\\\\u00e1n, Mexico, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ef641ca44456ab9dc1784e98c2521759d\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJose Jovani Toledo, 36, of Torrance, California, was sentenced to six years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e4096ec3078775f664251f06e7594e630\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMichael Childers, 51, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e60e3b4e6964ce4db6ef02ef8cf1dff78\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKamal Hussein Espinosa, 44, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to fourteen years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Corrections, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Matthew R. LaGrone, and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons, prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:00:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788379241\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:54:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788378867\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIsmael Guerrero-Moya, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from his Waycross, Georgia prison cell. Four other members of the trafficking ring previously were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Who Operated Large Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring from State Prison Sentenced to Federal Prison with Four Others\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-who-operated-large-methamphetamine-trafficking-ring-state-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b745fd7a-81f1-4995-a298-c40e8d2650b4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Chad Barclay pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a victim, Jane Doe #1.\\\\u0026nbsp; Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated that he kidnapped six additional women.\\\\u0026nbsp; The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.\\\\u0026nbsp;When sentenced, Barclay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment and up to life in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking.\\\\u0026nbsp; We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division for their support, and the New York City Police Department for its assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,\\\\u201d stated Assistant Attorney General Duva. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cThis prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay\\\\u2019s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity. The FBI and NYPD\\\\u0027s joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions,\\\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs set forth in court filings and during today\\\\u2019s plea proceeding, on September 13, 2022, Barclay enticed Jane Doe #1, who he met on Eros, an online escort website, to travel from another state to his apartment in Brooklyn to engage in commercial sex.\\\\u0026nbsp; After arriving at his apartment, Barclay paid Jane Doe #1 approximately $1,500 in cash for sex.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay then used force to have sex with her without a condom and against her will.\\\\u0026nbsp; After raping Jane Doe #1, Barclay opened her purse and took the $1,500 he already paid her.\\\\u0026nbsp; In addition, he stole approximately $1,200 from the victim\\\\u2019s purse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay asserted that Jane Doe #1 still owed him $1,500 for working on his turf, claiming that he \\\\u201cran\\\\u201d Brooklyn and was part of a \\\\u201cBrooklyn gang\\\\u201d so all the women in Brooklyn worked for him and had to pay him a \\\\u201ctax.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; When Jane Doe #1 replied that she did not have any more money, Barclay laughed and said that she was going to have to \\\\u201cpay or you have to work for me or you die.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarclay also warned Jane Doe #1 that his \\\\u201cguys\\\\u201d were in front of the building and they would kill her if she tried to leave.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay also confiscated her phone, forced her to unlock it with her face and reviewed the contents of her phone.\\\\u0026nbsp; After reviewing her phone, Barclay\\\\u0026nbsp;threatened Jane Doe #1 by stating that he knew where she lived and that she had a daughter.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay permitted her to leave after Jane Doe #1 stated that she sent a friend her location information and that her friend would call the police if she did not hear from Jane Doe #1 soon.\\\\u0026nbsp; Jane Doe #1 later reported the rape to local police and went to a hospital where a rape kit was performed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay engaged in a similar pattern in which he enticed commercial sex workers to come to his apartment where he robbed and sexually assaulted most of the victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Andy Palacio and Lorena Michelen and Trial Attorney Olimpia Michel of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHAD BARCLAY\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge:\\\\u0026nbsp;33\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EBrooklyn, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-242 (S-1) (FB)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:46:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389205\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:27:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380864\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Chad Barclay pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a victim, Jane Doe #1.\\\\u0026nbsp; Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated that he kidnapped six additional women.\\\\u0026nbsp; The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.\\\\u0026nbsp;When sentenced, Barclay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment and up to life in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Victim and Admits to Kidnapping Six Other Women\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b68977d-e415-4bfb-b0c5-5fb180bebdf4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Human Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/brooklyn-man-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-victim-and-admits-kidnapping-six-other\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9a56ee71-b8db-45de-b7d4-4012d4ee622b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the plea hearing, Barclay admitted that on Sept. 13, 2022, he enticed the victim to his residence to engage in commercial sex, where he robbed and sexually assaulted her. As part of plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023. For targeting five victims, Barclay was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment with interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnapping, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding in August 2023. Barclay was charged with a sex trafficking count for one of the original five victims and interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnaping, and other related charges for two additional victims in a second superseding indictment in May 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\\\u201cThis prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking. We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay\\\\u2019s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity,\\\\u201d said Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle of the FBI\\\\u2019s New York Field Office. \\\\u201cThe FBI and NYPD\\\\u0027s joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarclay faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI New York Field Office and the New York Police Department are investigating the case as part of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Olimpia E. Michel of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Palacio and Lorena Michelen for the Eastern District of New York and are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:39:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385165\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"48a4c599-c2d1-4070-95dd-1f211453b3ad\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:20:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788384047\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1013\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Trinidadian Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking in New York\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b68977d-e415-4bfb-b0c5-5fb180bebdf4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Human Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/trinidadian-foreign-national-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-new-york\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6e131ff5-251e-4f02-b96d-c3aab1fe4f9b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\\\u2013 A federal jury in Charlotte returned a guilty verdict today against William Stanley, 25, and Heather Morrow, 45, both of Charlotte, for impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties of government employees; failure to comply with the lawful direction of an authorized individual; and obstructing the entrance on a federal property. Morrow was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with federal officers performing their official duties. Stanley was found not guilty of that offense. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew E. Orso presided over the trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on November 16, 2025, Morrow and Stanley, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE\\\\/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building\\\\u2019s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460091\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/cones.jpg?itok=eyNfgbyq\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022488\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460101\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/vehicle.jpg?itok=wdb1juf8\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022492\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the  federal property \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the  federal property \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial evidence further established that Stanley and Morrow\\\\u2019s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer\\\\u2019s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460106\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/stanley.jpg?itok=vQPYIrUo\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022505\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460096\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n  \\\\n      \\\\n  \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E  \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/morrow.jpg?itok=5zIssUN2\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022527\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place  Stanley in custody \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place  Stanley in custody \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n    \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n      \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged attesting to place Stanley in custody.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants were released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Smith and Caryn Finley prosecuted the case\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T20:10:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788394210\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:47:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389255\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460091\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e16e211-0789-42a2-84e5-6f3756b8199f\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460096\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"04e46019-6d8a-4ad1-b8ee-720d20127912\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place  Stanley in custody \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place  Stanley in custody \\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460101\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"94601a0a-596d-44a4-b1ed-db1ad0d5d83d\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the  federal property \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the  federal property \\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460106\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f445ab3-3e94-4fd0-800d-39d4cb7122a0\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Jury Convicts Man and Woman of Interfering with Federal Officers Performing Official Duties and Related Offenses \\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-man-and-woman-interfering-federal-officers-performing-official\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ef742d0c-e9a6-4790-a155-ceb4c5248b5d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia,\\\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced\\\\u0026nbsp;today in U.S. District Court\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;50\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison\\\\u0026nbsp;in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPonson pleaded guilty\\\\u0026nbsp;on May 29\\\\u0026nbsp;before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interfe\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nally significant items are more than objects, they are a connection to history, traditions, and identity,\\\\u201d said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. \\\\u201cWe are honored to help return these items to their rightful home and uphold the federal government\\\\u2019s commitment to protecting the heritage and sovereignty of the Osage Nation.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe remaining archaeological materials will be handled using appropriate cultural resource protocols to ensure respectful treatment and disposition in accordance with federal law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe civil forfeiture action was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick in coordination with a related criminal prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Barnes and Cari Walsh. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly made the recovery and restoration of these artifacts possible.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:59:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788386393\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:43:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788378194\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that a collection of culturally significant Native American artifacts has been returned to the Osage Nation after the conclusion of a civil forfeiture action involving items unlawfully removed from federal lands near Harry S. Truman Lake.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office Returns Culturally Significant Artifacts to Osage Nation Following Civil Forfeiture Judgment\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-returns-culturally-significant-artifacts-osage-nation-following\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9eb7098d-5307-4950-aa0d-472c8919964c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 Yesterday, a district court judge sentenced an East St. Louis man to 15 years of federal imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm. This was the maximum sentence allowable by law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdil\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-convicts-prior-felon-unlawful-possession-firearm\\\\u0022\\\\u003Efound guilty by a federal jury in May\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Bradley has several prior criminal convictions, including a state conviction for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis convicted murderer got out of state prison and carried a loaded gun, modified to function as a machine gun, through a public housing complex,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\\\u201cWe did not plead this case out. We tried it, the jury spoke, and he got the maximum sentence in federal prison. As he should.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe evidence presented at trial revealed that in October 2024 Bradley was observed possessing a firearm by law enforcement officers during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis. The firearm was loaded with fourteen rounds of ammunition and had a machinegun conversion device installed. In October 2024, Bradley was under federal supervised release for a prior firearms offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBecause of the persistence of the Illinois State Police and our partners getting guns and dangerous criminals off the street, this convicted felon will spend years in a federal prison,\\\\u201d said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cConvicted felons who repeatedly break the law threaten public safety and the Illinois State Police will continue to dedicate resources to protect our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing imprisonment, Bradley will serve three years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:42:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385372\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:34:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788384885\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Previously Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 15-Year Maximum for New Federal Gun Crime\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdil\\\\/pr\\\\/previously-convicted-murderer-sentenced-15-year-maximum-new-federal-gun-crime\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b92725a8-24e0-43fb-9023-4f2e4af47df2\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELAREDO, Texas \\\\u2013 A 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERolando Soliz pleaded guilty Sept. 16, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Soliz to serve 110 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing Sept. 1, the court heard additional evidence to include details about Soliz\\\\u2019s extensive criminal history as well as his possession of large amounts of cash and 10 different firearms, one of which was a short-barreled rifle converted to operate as a machine gun. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kazen noted his conviction was for distributing fentanyl during a time when it was killing more and more people in the community. He also noted his extensive criminal history including four prior felony convictions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation, which began July 11, 2024, indicated Soliz had been engaged in multiple transactions involving fentanyl in the Laredo area.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaw enforcement set up surveillance at Soliz\\\\u2019s apartment and witnessed multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions. A subsequent traffic stop resulted in the discovery of fentanyl that had been obtained from Soliz at his residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 31, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Soliz\\\\u2019s apartment and discovered 24.8 grams of fentanyl inside a toilet bowl. They had also searched his mother\\\\u2019s residence. As a result of the warrants at both locations, law enforcement seized the drugs, over $16,000 in cash, and multiple firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESoliz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Webb County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office; and Webb County Constables Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T13:06:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788368805\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T12:59:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788368382\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Firearm-wielding fentanyl dealer sentenced to over 100 months\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/firearm-wielding-fentanyl-dealer-sentenced-over-100-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"19a550ce-fbc1-4371-96c6-871920cffb16\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\\\u2013 A Tulsa man was indicted on several counts related to sexually assaulting women and is now detained,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003Epending trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDeleon Milford Cooks, 24, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with two counts of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; two counts of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAssault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; one count of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ECarrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; two counts of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAssault of an Intimate\\\\/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; and one count of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESexual Abuse without Consent in Indian Country.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents show that Cooks is indicted for knowingly forcing two victims to engage in sexual activity and placing them in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping. He is accused of assaulting both victims with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Cooks also strangled both victims and engaged in a sexual act with one victim without her consent.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Deleon Milford Cooks. The FBI believes he primarily targeted women from 2023 through 2026. If you were victimized by Deleon Milford Cooks or have information relevant to this investigation, \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.fbi.gov\\\\/how-we-can-help-you\\\\/victim-services\\\\/seeking-victim-information\\\\/seeking-victim-information-in-deleon-cooks-investigation\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eplease fill out the Seeking Information Questionnaire\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003Ethe case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ecourt of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T09:10:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788354639\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-01T14:43:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788288187\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Tulsa man was indicted on several counts related to sexually assaulting women and is now detained, pending trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tulsa Man Indicted for Sexual Assault and the FBI is Seeking to Identify Potential Victims\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndok\\\\/pr\\\\/tulsa-man-indicted-sexual-assault-and-fbi-seeking-identify-potential-victims\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c0a3555d-a0a5-49d5-b083-ef73417262a7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBryan Isiah Thomas was previously charged in a two-count indictment filed in the Western District of Missouri on July 21, 2026. A federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. returned a superseding indictment today alleging that Thomas distributed fentanyl in Cole County on three separate occasions in March\\\\u0026nbsp; 2026, including one occasion where the fentanyl caused the death of another.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan T. Duenckel. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Callaway County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:45:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385533\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:41:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385318\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBryan Isiah Thomas, 37 Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jefferson City Man Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/jefferson-city-man-indicted-distribution-fentanyl-resulting-death\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56740ddf-6216-422f-99d6-5e843adccea6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marco Laboy-Torres, age 47, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 1, 2026, to 144 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Laboy-Torres was sentenced for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy where over five kilograms of cocaine were delivered by mail from Puerto Rico and trafficked in York.\\\\u0026nbsp; Laboy-Torres also possessed a short-barreled firearm in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaboy-Torres previously pled guilty for his role in the conspiracy. Robert Nelson, age 62, York, and Luis Valentin-Hernandez, age 50, York, are charged for their roles in the conspiracy. Both defendants are pending trial in November 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:30:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373827\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:29:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373765\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"York Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy And Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/york-man-sentenced-12-years-prison-cocaine-trafficking-conspiracy-and-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5440e22-4bbf-442c-a9eb-26beb8412f4f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Lytrice Adams, 36\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp; D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking operation in Hardin County, Tennessee. \\\\u0026nbsp;During the investigation, agents utilized controlled purchases of methamphetamine, Title III wiretaps, and other investigative tactics. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUsing wiretap interceptions, agents identified Alveto Higgins\\\\u2014who was then residing in Middle Tennessee\\\\u2014as the supplier of the operation. \\\\u0026nbsp;The controlled purchases were made from Adams and Higgins at Adams\\\\u2019s residence in Savannah.\\\\u0026nbsp; Agents were ultimately able to purchase over 350 grams of actual methamphetamine from Adams and Higgins.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing her guilty plea to distributing methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Adams to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u0026nbsp; Higgins has also pled guilty in this case, and he will be sentenced later this year.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, \\\\u0022Using various methods, techniques, sources, and strategies, we are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations. Drug dealers can no longer hide in any part of the Western District of Tennessee, and this sentence demonstrates our commitment to remove poison peddlers from our streets.\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDrug dealers like Lytrice Adams, who poison our communities and display little to no empathy for their victims, should expect to meet the full weight of our justice system,\\\\u201d said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThe lengthy sentence handed down today should give Ms. Adams time to reflect on her criminal actions and hopefully she\\\\u2019ll come out of prison a better person.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EFor more information, please contact the media relations team at \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUSATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E. Follow the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2Fa9UhD2Prx8nIY-6djnGphQDbShTcuPoA1ztwg7nk7Fg=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a063b59319-e434b725-c3c5-44d9-a9de-3ab39cc6a016-000000\\\\/ecJaEskaVd38BknpLA3QMBme3SyLHTGv8OzHzkKbMDM=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eon Facebook\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E or \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fprotect2.fireeye.com%252Fv1%252Furl%253Fk=1ccf5694-7982ef19-1cc87271-74fe48680e18-429ea4c66a6734da%2526q=1%2526e=160013ce-d024-44a4-8061-4f5534e7d3ee%2526u=https%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwitter.com%25252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2FamSIP6DtqegVIpgurWZC34y6s_PeEiF-k7QfKo-xkgA=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a063b59319-e434b725-c3c5-44d9-a9de-3ab39cc6a016-000000\\\\/6YIdwiwpTVJ6xWimGuALh_PNWrFC1sAXq8GfVzy_iNw=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eon X\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:13:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380013\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ab4078-eaac-4d82-8ebf-cf84fb74f272\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:09:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788379747\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Lytrice Adams, 36\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp; D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a...\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hardin County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtn\\\\/pr\\\\/hardin-county-woman-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-distributing-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"954f33c7-b1b2-45ec-8c93-f13e2ea7f866\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, MS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 On September 2, 2026, a Pearl River man pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Benjamin E. Stephens, 43, embezzled approximately $200,000 from the Choctaw Rental Housing Program while working as an employee of the Tribal program. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Robert Eikhoff, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Jackson Office, made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStephens is scheduled to be sent\n[...truncated]",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 3.782068684
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01Vwo9NZUByMokNxHH5kV1jH

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/work && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,re,datetime\nd=json.load(open('doj_week.json'))\ndef clean(h): \n t=re.sub('<[^>]+>',' ',h or ''); t=t.replace(' ',' ').replace('&','&').replace(''',\"'\").replace('"','\"').replace('“','\"').replace('”','\"')\n return re.sub(r'\\s+',' ',t).strip()\nkeys=['hedge fund','Artificial Intelligence Company','Southern Glazer','Colombian National Indicted','Chicago Trader','Brooklyn Adult Daycare','Scam Center Strike Force','Dompé','Passaic','Conti','Hawaii, DC, Arkansas','Alien Terrorist','Berkeley Law','270M','Russian National Extradited','Eye Practice','RAD Diversified','Los Angeles County Sheriff','abusive tax shelter','Abusive Tax Shelter']\nout=[]\nfor u,r in d.items():\n t=r['title']\n if any(k.lower() in t.lower() for k in keys):\n out.append((datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),t.strip(),r['url'],clean(r['body'])[:1800]))\nfor o in sorted(set(out)):\n print('==',o[0],'|',o[1]); print(o[2]); print(o[3][:1500]); print()\nEOF" }

Tool Progress E0090

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Tool Result E0091

== 2026-09-08 | First week of September brings 239 more cases in continued border enforcement efforts https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/first-week-september-brings-239-more-cases-continued-border-enforcement-efforts HOUSTON – Another 247 people have been charged, including 232 illegal aliens, in 239 cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes from Aug. 28-Sept. 3. A total of 171 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 41 people face charges of illegal entry. Most of those illegal aliens have prior felonies involving narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses, and more. In addition, 42 people have been charged with human smuggling which includes 20 illegal aliens themselves. The remaining cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges. Three illegal aliens charged during this period were already removed this year, but returned again unlawfully to the Rio Grande Valley, according to new criminal complaints against them. Junior Fidel Ramos-Leiva is a Honduran male who allegedly has a prior conviction of robbery with dangerous weapon, while Mexican nationals Brayan Valadez-Hernandez and Brayan Gutierrez-Salvador have two prior felony drug convictions and an alien smuggling conviction, respectively. Law enforcement discovered three more Mexican males illegally in the United States. Jose Ivan Hernandez-Martinez and Jose Francisco Torres-Olguin allegedly have prior convictions for alien in possession of a firearm and alien smuggling before their removals in 2025. Jose Luis Amezcua-Gutierrez was discovered near Hidalgo, despite having been removed in 2024 following his conviction and sentence for == 2026-09-08 | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, a Russian national and web developer who was allegedly involved in a transnational cyber‑fraud conspiracy responsible for large‑scale bank account takeover activity, was arraigned Friday in the Northern District of Georgia after being extradited from the Republic of Georgia. Filimonov was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 4, 2025, for charges relating to a credential‑harvesting and bank‑fraud operation that targeted victims across the United States. According to court documents, Filimonov and his co‑conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search‑engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspirators used the stolen credentials to access bank accounts, review account balances, and initiate unauthorized wire transfers to steal bank account funds. The indictment also alleges that Filimonov developed and maintained online infrastructure supporting the operation, including interactive databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture and transmit sensitive authentication data. Filimonov and his conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain millions of dollars from victim accounts, including accounts held by companies located in the Northern District of Georgia. In connection with t == 2026-09-08 | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing ATLANTA – Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, a Russian national and web developer who was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, appeared in federal court last week on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his alleged role in a transnational conspiracy responsible for large‑scale bank account takeovers. “This investigation and indictment underscore our commitment to disrupting large-scale cyber theft,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “With assistance from our international partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize technology for personal gain and hold them fully accountable in an American courtroom.” “Filimonov allegedly used spoofed domains and fraudulent login pages to target unsuspecting online banking customers, stealing millions from victims,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This announcement is a powerful demonstration of the value of our partnerships on cybercrime, without which these extraditions and arrests would not be possible.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from November 2023 through October 2025, Filimonov and his co‑conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search‑engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspi == 2026-09-09 | Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in $68 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-76-months-prison-leadership-role-68-million BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company. In August 2025, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks. As part of her sentence, Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below. EDNY Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); Miranda L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters a == 2026-09-09 | California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme A California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California’s history. Paul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution. “Paul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal’s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California’s most vulnerable residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.” “This case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Hea == 2026-09-09 | Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law The U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law’s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ( SFFA ), which banned race discrimination in higher education. “Berkeley Law School’s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.” “Title VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,” said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. “The Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today’s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are jud == 2026-09-09 | Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (“Xinbi”), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million. Joining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. “If Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.” As alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chine == 2026-09-10 | Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics. These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled == 2026-09-10 | Dompé U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient Dompé U.S. Inc. (Dompé), based in California, has agreed to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. “This settlement demonstrates the United States’ commitment to enforcing the Anti-Kickback Statute and ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers do not use unlawful inducements,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department encourages companies that uncover improper kickbacks to self-disclose such conduct.” “Kickbacks to beneficiaries undermine the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and drive up the cost of drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “My Office has recovered over $1.4 billion for taxpayers through settlements and enforcement actions concerning drug company kickbacks to purported charities, and we will continue to pursue these matters to ensure that all drug companies play by the rules and to protect federal taxpayer funded healthcare programs.” “Pharmaceutical manufacturers that attempt to disguise kickbacks as charitable patient assistance are engaging in blatant misconduct which corrupts medical decision‑making and drains federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Depar == 2026-09-10 | Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cleanup https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river The Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today lodged a proposed settlement agreement with Environmental Resource Holdings LLC (ERH) to perform critical work to support the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, including the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. The work is estimated to cost $125 million and focuses on the next steps needed to get the in-river work started. Under the proposed consent decree, ERH would construct an upland processing facility and several upland support facilities that would enable dredging and capping work in the Lower Passaic River. The construction would include a facility to handle sediment dredged from the river before it is sent for off-site disposal. The upland support facilities would provide land and infrastructure needed to support future in-river construction work. ERH would sample the lower 8.3 miles of the river to establish a baseline and reimburse EPA for future oversight costs related to this work. “Over many decades, industrial activity contaminated the Lower Passaic River,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement is a significant step toward cleaning up a site that has been a longstanding priority for EPA. We will continue to partner with EPA to promote public health by ensuring that responsible parties remediate Superfund sites.” “The construction ordered in this conse == 2026-09-10 | RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees’ Benefit Plans https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon “Dutch” Mendenhall (47, Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted, Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit the proceeds traceable to the offenses. According to the indictment, Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies’ 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees’ paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee’s paychecks to the company’s health insurance plan. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. T == 2026-09-10 | The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment for Illegal Aliens https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential Today, the Department of Justice filed its final four lawsuits against three states and the District of Columbia who seek to undermine federal law by placing illegal aliens over citizens in clear defiance of Congress’s commands. The Department filed complaints against Hawaii , the District of Columbia , Arkansas , and Utah , challenging their state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal aliens. Our filings hold that these laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal aliens with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. These final lawsuits come after the United States District Court for the District of Kansas ruled yesterday that Kansas’ state law allowing in-state tuition for illegal aliens is unconstitutional. “No more placing illegal aliens over American citizens on this Department of Justice’s watch,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We have now sued every state across our Nation that has a state law or regulation granting illegal aliens in-state tuition. We look forward to favorable court rulings and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s promise: illegal aliens will not receive benefits denied to American citizens.” “This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they == 2026-09-10 | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected the computers of more than 1,000 victims worldwide. According to court documents, Lytvynenko, formerly of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. From 2020 until 2022, Conti was used to attack computers and networks in 47 states, 31 foreign countries, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, there had been victim payouts associated with Conti ransomware exceeding $150,000,000. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of ransomware and the Department’s commitment to protecting America’s hospitals, schools, businesses, and local governments,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “For years, the Conti ransomware group executed a sustained and sophisticated campaign that victimized hundreds of organizations across the United States and abroad, including critical infrastructure entities, causing losses in the millions of dollars. Lytvynenko joined that conspiracy as both an intruder and a developer — personally harming at least 12 companies, storing stolen data from victims, and helping build the malicious tools Conti used to extort and threaten communities. Even after the Conti conspiracy ended, == 2026-09-10 | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected the computers of more than 1,000 victims worldwide. According to court documents, Lytvynenko, formerly of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. From 2020 until 2022, Conti was used to attack computers and networks in 47 states, 31 foreign countries, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, there had been victim payouts associated with Conti ransomware exceeding $150,000,000. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of ransomware and the Department’s commitment to protecting America’s hospitals, schools, businesses, and local governments,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “For years, the Conti ransomware group executed a sustained and sophisticated campaign that victimized hundreds of organizations across the United States and abroad, including critical infrastructure entities, causing losses in the millions of dollars. Lytvynenko joined that conspiracy as both an intruder and a developer — personally harming at least 12 companies, storing stolen data from victims, and helping build the malicious tools Conti used to extort and threaten communities. Even after the Conti conspiracy ended, == 2026-09-11 | Chicago Trader Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Engaging in Unauthorized Trading That Caused $30 Million in Losses https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading CHICAGO — A Chicago trader has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for engaging in unauthorized speculative bond trading that cost his employer and others more than $30 million in losses and also caused his employer to become insolvent, which in turn led to more than 200 people losing their jobs. KEITH WAKEFIELD worked as the head of fixed income trading for IFS Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer in Chicago. In 2019, Wakefield knowingly and fraudulently engaged in unauthorized speculative trading in U.S. Treasury bonds using his employer’s trading accounts, exposing his trading to approximately $250 million in losses and actually causing more than $30 million in losses to the employer and its counterparties. Wakefield attempted to conceal the unauthorized trades and losses by entering fake off-setting trades into a clearing broker’s order system, creating the false impression that he had profitably traded through a different clearing broker. In addition to the fraudulent trading scheme, Wakefield from 2017 to 2019 embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from IFS Securities by falsifying the company’s books and records to create fake commissions that Wakefield knew were not actually owed to him. A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago in 2024 convicted Wakefield, 52, of Chicago, of securities fraud and wire fraud. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Wakefield to 16 years and eight months in federal prison. The sentence was announc == 2026-09-11 | Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal In the first-ever case before the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national previously residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after conceding that she is an alien terrorist. As the matriarch in her family, she supported a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024 for which her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously arrested and convicted. The ATRC issued an order of removal on Aug. 20 that was unsealed earlier today following her return to her country of origin. This was the first case ever brought before the ATRC, which Congress established decades ago, and which no previous administration had used. Zada is now permanently inadmissible to the United States. The application to remove Zada, certified by Attorney General Todd Blanche, was filed on July 15, and Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30. ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen presided over that hearing and later signed the removal order. In compliance with the ATRC statute, the government used classified information to establish that Zada is an alien terrorist. Additionally, the government provided Zada and her lawyers, two federal public defenders, with approximately half a terabyte of documents supporting the government’s case. With her lawyers, Zada conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order, terminating her previous stat == 2026-09-11 | Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims BOSTON – St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act. The United States alleges that from September 2015 through December 2020, St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute (St. Michael’s) and Dr. Michaelos caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, St. Michael’s and Dr. Michaelos admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. St. Michael’s had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid St. Michael’s for referrals that St. Michael’s made for TCD tests, even though the parties’ contracts called for payment based on the cost of office space, staff, and utilities, and not per-patient or per-test that St. Michael’s referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of these tests, Eyecuity submitted claims to Medicare that indicated that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Sy == 2026-09-11 | Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (“Joonko”), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko’s customers and Joonko’s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. “Fraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Ilit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.” “The guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “By admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.” According to the allegations in the Supersedi == 2026-09-11 | Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (“Oraclum”) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the “Orca Bason Fund” or the “Fund”), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. “We will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors’ money at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.” “Vuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “These allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.” “When individuals allegedl == 2026-09-11 | Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter A Texas man was sentenced this week to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country. According to court documents, Aanand Shukla, of Jonestown, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States related to his efforts to promote a fraudulent tax shelter to business owners across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 to 2025, Shukla and his co-conspirators promoted, sold and personally used an abusive trust tax shelter that promised clients — for quoted fees as high as $225,000 — that they could “own nothing, control everything” and eliminate taxes on nearly all of their business income while maintaining full control over their money. Shukla marketed the scheme nationwide through seminars, webinars, podcasts and direct sales pitches. He instructed clients to restructure their companies so that approximately 98% of their business income flowed through layered trusts and a private family foundation. He told clients to run personal expenses — such as vehicles, entertainment and mortgage payments — through trust accounts and claim those expenses as deductions. Shukla typically sold these trust packages to clients for $25,000 to $55,000, created trust documents, trained other promoters and referred clients to tax preparers he had personally selected and knew would participate in the scheme. Shukla facilitated the concealment of more than $27 million in income from the IRS. On

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01Vwo9NZUByMokNxHH5kV1jH, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.325

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/work && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,re,datetime\nd=json.load(open('doj_week.json'))\ndef clean(h): \n    t=re.sub('<[^>]+>',' ',h or ''); t=t.replace('&nbsp;',' ').replace('&amp;','&').replace('&#039;',\"'\").replace('&quot;','\"').replace('&ldquo;','\"').replace('&rdquo;','\"')\n    return re.sub(r'\\s+',' ',t).strip()\nkeys=['hedge fund','Artificial Intelligence Company','Southern Glazer','Colombian National Indicted','Chicago Trader','Brooklyn Adult Daycare','Scam Center Strike Force','Dompé','Passaic','Conti','Hawaii, DC, Arkansas','Alien Terrorist','Berkeley Law','270M','Russian National Extradited','Eye Practice','RAD Diversified','Los Angeles County Sheriff','abusive tax shelter','Abusive Tax Shelter']\nout=[]\nfor u,r in d.items():\n    t=r['title']\n    if any(k.lower() in t.lower() for k in keys):\n        out.append((datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),t.strip(),r['url'],clean(r['body'])[:1800]))\nfor o in sorted(set(out)):\n    print('==',o[0],'|',o[1]); print(o[2]); print(o[3][:1500]); print()\nEOF"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01Vwo9NZUByMokNxHH5kV1jH",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.326

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01Vwo9NZUByMokNxHH5kV1jH",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/work && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,re,datetime\nd=json.load(open('doj_week.json'))\nd...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169702768
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.327

Inner payload

{
"tool_name": "shell",
"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01Vwo9NZUByMokNxHH5kV1jH",
"status": "completed",
"result": "== 2026-09-08 | First week of September brings 239 more cases in continued border enforcement efforts\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/first-week-september-brings-239-more-cases-continued-border-enforcement-efforts\nHOUSTON – Another 247 people have been charged, including 232 illegal aliens, in 239 cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes from Aug. 28-Sept. 3. A total of 171 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 41 people face charges of illegal entry. Most of those illegal aliens have prior felonies involving narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses, and more. In addition, 42 people have been charged with human smuggling which includes 20 illegal aliens themselves. The remaining cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges. Three illegal aliens charged during this period were already removed this year, but returned again unlawfully to the Rio Grande Valley, according to new criminal complaints against them. Junior Fidel Ramos-Leiva is a Honduran male who allegedly has a prior conviction of robbery with dangerous weapon, while Mexican nationals Brayan Valadez-Hernandez and Brayan Gutierrez-Salvador have two prior felony drug convictions and an alien smuggling conviction, respectively. Law enforcement discovered three more Mexican males illegally in the United States. Jose Ivan Hernandez-Martinez and Jose Francisco Torres-Olguin allegedly have prior convictions for alien in possession of a firearm and alien smuggling before their removals in 2025. Jose Luis Amezcua-Gutierrez was discovered near Hidalgo, despite having been removed in 2024 following his conviction and sentence for\n\n== 2026-09-08 | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing\nSergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, a Russian national and web developer who was allegedly involved in a transnational cyber‑fraud conspiracy responsible for large‑scale bank account takeover activity, was arraigned Friday in the Northern District of Georgia after being extradited from the Republic of Georgia. Filimonov was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 4, 2025, for charges relating to a credential‑harvesting and bank‑fraud operation that targeted victims across the United States. According to court documents, Filimonov and his co‑conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search‑engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspirators used the stolen credentials to access bank accounts, review account balances, and initiate unauthorized wire transfers to steal bank account funds. The indictment also alleges that Filimonov developed and maintained online infrastructure supporting the operation, including interactive databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture and transmit sensitive authentication data. Filimonov and his conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain millions of dollars from victim accounts, including accounts held by companies located in the Northern District of Georgia. In connection with t\n\n== 2026-09-08 | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing\nATLANTA – Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, a Russian national and web developer who was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, appeared in federal court last week on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his alleged role in a transnational conspiracy responsible for large‑scale bank account takeovers. “This investigation and indictment underscore our commitment to disrupting large-scale cyber theft,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “With assistance from our international partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize technology for personal gain and hold them fully accountable in an American courtroom.” “Filimonov allegedly used spoofed domains and fraudulent login pages to target unsuspecting online banking customers, stealing millions from victims,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This announcement is a powerful demonstration of the value of our partnerships on cybercrime, without which these extraditions and arrests would not be possible.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from November 2023 through October 2025, Filimonov and his co‑conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search‑engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspi\n\n== 2026-09-09 | Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in $68 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-76-months-prison-leadership-role-68-million\nBROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company. In August 2025, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks. As part of her sentence, Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below. EDNY Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); Miranda L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters a\n\n== 2026-09-09 | California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\nA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California’s history. Paul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution. “Paul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal’s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California’s most vulnerable residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.” “This case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Hea\n\n== 2026-09-09 | Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\nThe U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law’s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ( SFFA ), which banned race discrimination in higher education. “Berkeley Law School’s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.” “Title VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,” said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. “The Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today’s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are jud\n\n== 2026-09-09 | Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\nWASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (“Xinbi”), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million. Joining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. “If Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.” As alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chine\n\n== 2026-09-10 | Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\nGREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics. These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled\n\n== 2026-09-10 | Dompé U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient\nDompé U.S. Inc. (Dompé), based in California, has agreed to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. “This settlement demonstrates the United States’ commitment to enforcing the Anti-Kickback Statute and ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers do not use unlawful inducements,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department encourages companies that uncover improper kickbacks to self-disclose such conduct.” “Kickbacks to beneficiaries undermine the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and drive up the cost of drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “My Office has recovered over $1.4 billion for taxpayers through settlements and enforcement actions concerning drug company kickbacks to purported charities, and we will continue to pursue these matters to ensure that all drug companies play by the rules and to protect federal taxpayer funded healthcare programs.” “Pharmaceutical manufacturers that attempt to disguise kickbacks as charitable patient assistance are engaging in blatant misconduct which corrupts medical decision‑making and drains federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Depar\n\n== 2026-09-10 | Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cleanup\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river\nThe Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today lodged a proposed settlement agreement with Environmental Resource Holdings LLC (ERH) to perform critical work to support the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, including the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. The work is estimated to cost $125 million and focuses on the next steps needed to get the in-river work started. Under the proposed consent decree, ERH would construct an upland processing facility and several upland support facilities that would enable dredging and capping work in the Lower Passaic River. The construction would include a facility to handle sediment dredged from the river before it is sent for off-site disposal. The upland support facilities would provide land and infrastructure needed to support future in-river construction work. ERH would sample the lower 8.3 miles of the river to establish a baseline and reimburse EPA for future oversight costs related to this work. “Over many decades, industrial activity contaminated the Lower Passaic River,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement is a significant step toward cleaning up a site that has been a longstanding priority for EPA. We will continue to partner with EPA to promote public health by ensuring that responsible parties remediate Superfund sites.” “The construction ordered in this conse\n\n== 2026-09-10 | RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees’ Benefit Plans\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\nTampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon “Dutch” Mendenhall (47, Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted, Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit the proceeds traceable to the offenses. According to the indictment, Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies’ 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees’ paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee’s paychecks to the company’s health insurance plan. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. T\n\n== 2026-09-10 | The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment for Illegal Aliens\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential\nToday, the Department of Justice filed its final four lawsuits against three states and the District of Columbia who seek to undermine federal law by placing illegal aliens over citizens in clear defiance of Congress’s commands. The Department filed complaints against Hawaii , the District of Columbia , Arkansas , and Utah , challenging their state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal aliens. Our filings hold that these laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal aliens with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. These final lawsuits come after the United States District Court for the District of Kansas ruled yesterday that Kansas’ state law allowing in-state tuition for illegal aliens is unconstitutional. “No more placing illegal aliens over American citizens on this Department of Justice’s watch,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We have now sued every state across our Nation that has a state law or regulation granting illegal aliens in-state tuition. We look forward to favorable court rulings and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s promise: illegal aliens will not receive benefits denied to American citizens.” “This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they\n\n== 2026-09-10 | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti\nOleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected the computers of more than 1,000 victims worldwide. According to court documents, Lytvynenko, formerly of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. From 2020 until 2022, Conti was used to attack computers and networks in 47 states, 31 foreign countries, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, there had been victim payouts associated with Conti ransomware exceeding $150,000,000. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of ransomware and the Department’s commitment to protecting America’s hospitals, schools, businesses, and local governments,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “For years, the Conti ransomware group executed a sustained and sophisticated campaign that victimized hundreds of organizations across the United States and abroad, including critical infrastructure entities, causing losses in the millions of dollars. Lytvynenko joined that conspiracy as both an intruder and a developer — personally harming at least 12 companies, storing stolen data from victims, and helping build the malicious tools Conti used to extort and threaten communities. Even after the Conti conspiracy ended, \n\n== 2026-09-10 | Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti\nOleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected the computers of more than 1,000 victims worldwide. According to court documents, Lytvynenko, formerly of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. From 2020 until 2022, Conti was used to attack computers and networks in 47 states, 31 foreign countries, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, there had been victim payouts associated with Conti ransomware exceeding $150,000,000. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of ransomware and the Department’s commitment to protecting America’s hospitals, schools, businesses, and local governments,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “For years, the Conti ransomware group executed a sustained and sophisticated campaign that victimized hundreds of organizations across the United States and abroad, including critical infrastructure entities, causing losses in the millions of dollars. Lytvynenko joined that conspiracy as both an intruder and a developer — personally harming at least 12 companies, storing stolen data from victims, and helping build the malicious tools Conti used to extort and threaten communities. Even after the Conti conspiracy ended, \n\n== 2026-09-11 | Chicago Trader Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Engaging in Unauthorized Trading That Caused $30 Million in Losses\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading\nCHICAGO — A Chicago trader has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for engaging in unauthorized speculative bond trading that cost his employer and others more than $30 million in losses and also caused his employer to become insolvent, which in turn led to more than 200 people losing their jobs. KEITH WAKEFIELD worked as the head of fixed income trading for IFS Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer in Chicago. In 2019, Wakefield knowingly and fraudulently engaged in unauthorized speculative trading in U.S. Treasury bonds using his employer’s trading accounts, exposing his trading to approximately $250 million in losses and actually causing more than $30 million in losses to the employer and its counterparties. Wakefield attempted to conceal the unauthorized trades and losses by entering fake off-setting trades into a clearing broker’s order system, creating the false impression that he had profitably traded through a different clearing broker. In addition to the fraudulent trading scheme, Wakefield from 2017 to 2019 embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from IFS Securities by falsifying the company’s books and records to create fake commissions that Wakefield knew were not actually owed to him. A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago in 2024 convicted Wakefield, 52, of Chicago, of securities fraud and wire fraud. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Wakefield to 16 years and eight months in federal prison. The sentence was announc\n\n== 2026-09-11 | Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal\nIn the first-ever case before the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national previously residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after conceding that she is an alien terrorist. As the matriarch in her family, she supported a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024 for which her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously arrested and convicted. The ATRC issued an order of removal on Aug. 20 that was unsealed earlier today following her return to her country of origin. This was the first case ever brought before the ATRC, which Congress established decades ago, and which no previous administration had used. Zada is now permanently inadmissible to the United States. The application to remove Zada, certified by Attorney General Todd Blanche, was filed on July 15, and Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30. ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen presided over that hearing and later signed the removal order. In compliance with the ATRC statute, the government used classified information to establish that Zada is an alien terrorist. Additionally, the government provided Zada and her lawyers, two federal public defenders, with approximately half a terabyte of documents supporting the government’s case. With her lawyers, Zada conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order, terminating her previous stat\n\n== 2026-09-11 | Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims\nBOSTON – St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act. The United States alleges that from September 2015 through December 2020, St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute (St. Michael’s) and Dr. Michaelos caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, St. Michael’s and Dr. Michaelos admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. St. Michael’s had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid St. Michael’s for referrals that St. Michael’s made for TCD tests, even though the parties’ contracts called for payment based on the cost of office space, staff, and utilities, and not per-patient or per-test that St. Michael’s referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of these tests, Eyecuity submitted claims to Medicare that indicated that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Sy\n\n== 2026-09-11 | Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\nUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (“Joonko”), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko’s customers and Joonko’s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. “Fraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Ilit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.” “The guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “By admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.” According to the allegations in the Supersedi\n\n== 2026-09-11 | Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\nUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (“Oraclum”) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the “Orca Bason Fund” or the “Fund”), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. “We will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors’ money at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.” “Vuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “These allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.” “When individuals allegedl\n\n== 2026-09-11 | Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter\nA Texas man was sentenced this week to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country. According to court documents, Aanand Shukla, of Jonestown, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States related to his efforts to promote a fraudulent tax shelter to business owners across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 to 2025, Shukla and his co-conspirators promoted, sold and personally used an abusive trust tax shelter that promised clients — for quoted fees as high as $225,000 — that they could “own nothing, control everything” and eliminate taxes on nearly all of their business income while maintaining full control over their money. Shukla marketed the scheme nationwide through seminars, webinars, podcasts and direct sales pitches. He instructed clients to restructure their companies so that approximately 98% of their business income flowed through layered trusts and a private family foundation. He told clients to run personal expenses — such as vehicles, entertainment and mortgage payments — through trust accounts and claim those expenses as deductions. Shukla typically sold these trust packages to clients for $25,000 to $55,000, created trust documents, trained other promoters and referred clients to tax preparers he had personally selected and knew would participate in the scheme. Shukla facilitated the concealment of more than $27 million in income from the IRS. On\n\n",
"error": "",
"elapsed": 0.136515584
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01JfSVVf5jcRssJ5E7yh3kBM

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,datetime,collections\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n try:\n d=json.load(open(f)); inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n except Exception: continue\n for r in inner.get('results',[]): rows[r['uuid']]=r\ndef day(r): return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d')\nc=collections.Counter(day(r) for r in rows.values() if day(r)>='2026-09-01')\nprint(sorted(c.items()))\nfor r in sorted(rows.values(),key=lambda r:r['date']):\n d=day(r)\n if '2026-09-04'<=d<='2026-09-08':\n print(d,'|', ('OPA' if '/opa/pr/' in r['url'] else ' '),'|',r['title'].strip()[:100])\nEOF" }

Tool Progress E0093

(no result)

Tool Result E0094

[('2026-09-02', 56), ('2026-09-03', 70), ('2026-09-04', 53), ('2026-09-05', 1), ('2026-09-08', 63), ('2026-09-09', 78), ('2026-09-10', 67), ('2026-09-11', 52)] 2026-09-04 | | Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms 2026-09-04 | OPA | Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registrati 2026-09-04 | | Federal Jury Convicts Two Defendants of Conspiring To Retaliate Against Individuals Who Cooperated W 2026-09-04 | | Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor 2026-09-04 | | Dent County Caregiver Admits Stealing from Client 2026-09-04 | | Fugitive Who Stole Dead Man’s Identity Sentenced 2026-09-04 | | Montgomery Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses 2026-09-04 | | Christian Castro Indicted by Grand Jury for Making False Statements 2026-09-04 | | Franklin Towne Charter High School and Its Former CEO Agree to Pay Nearly $4 Million to Resolve Clai 2026-09-04 | OPA | Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries 2026-09-04 | | Dallas man sentenced to 720 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and offenses committed while a 2026-09-04 | | Med Spa Owner Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Performing Thousands of Counterfeit Botox and Fil 2026-09-04 | | Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree 2026-09-04 | | Georgian National Charged for Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of $1.3 Billion Health Care Fraud Schem 2026-09-04 | | Fairbanks man sentenced to 30 years for carrying a machinegun during a drug trafficking crime 2026-09-04 | OPA | Justice Department Reaches Proposed Consent Decree with Pinnacle, One of America’s Largest Landlord 2026-09-04 | | Repeat Offender Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for His Ninth Felony Conviction 2026-09-04 | | Husband And Wife Charged With Alien Voting 2026-09-04 | | Federal Fraud Charges Filed Against Former Indianapolis Daycare Operator 2026-09-04 | | U.S. Attorney’s Office Committed to Protecting Children in the Digital Age 2026-09-04 | | Co-Conspirators Sentenced for Directing Fentanyl Distribution While Incarcerated 2026-09-04 | | Ponchatoula Woman Guilty of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds 2026-09-04 | | Federal Court Sentences Former Substitute Teacher to 40 Years in Prison for the Sexual Exploitation 2026-09-04 | | Seventeen Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation of Fentanyl Trafficking Network in S 2026-09-04 | | Owner of Tax Prep Business Found Guilty of Conspiring to Defraud the IRS 2026-09-04 | OPA | Ohio Company Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case 2026-09-04 | | South Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Benefic 2026-09-04 | | Panga Boat Pilot Sentenced in Human Smuggling Event that Killed Five 2026-09-04 | | Armed Waterbury Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison 2026-09-04 | | Galloway car dealership owner pleads guilty to importing counterfeit air bags 2026-09-04 | | New Orleans Man Guilty of Receiving Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors 2026-09-04 | | Raleigh Drug Ringleader Convicted at Federal Guns and Drugs Trial 2026-09-04 | | Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime 2026-09-04 | | Husband and Wife Sentenced in International Property Theft Scheme 2026-09-04 | | District of Arizona Charges 265 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week 2026-09-04 | | Illegal Alien From Mexico Charged With Alien Voting 2026-09-04 | | Dog Fighting Investigation Results in Largest Single Property Dog Seizure in South Carolina History, 2026-09-04 | | Man Sentenced to 76 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing or Attempting To Rob Four Banks in Chicago 2026-09-04 | | Jefferson County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the 2026-09-04 | | Jamaican Citizen Charged With Illegal Reentry 2026-09-04 | | Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession 2026-09-04 | OPA | Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $4M in Drug Trafficking Proceeds 2026-09-04 | | Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm 2026-09-04 | | Illegal Alien from Brazil Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal 2026-09-04 | | Bozeman men sentenced to prison for trafficking meth from Las Vegas 2026-09-04 | OPA | Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Using an Underground Tunnel 2026-09-04 | | Clewiston Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentany 2026-09-04 | | Mexican national sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison for being a deported alien found in the 2026-09-04 | OPA | Illegal Alien from Georgia Charged for Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of $1.3B Health Care Fraud Sch 2026-09-04 | | Romanian fugitive apprehended in Washington state after fleeing prosecution in Georgia 2026-09-04 | | Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Voting in the 2022 Election 2026-09-04 | | Minnesota Pool Contractor Sentenced to 60 Months’ Imprisonment for Defrauding 21 Customers 2026-09-04 | | Federal authorities charge ex USCIS official and associate in sweeping corruption scheme involving u 2026-09-05 | | It’s a New Day in Fort Worth: Federal operation aims to remove violent offenders from the community 2026-09-08 | | Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer 2026-09-08 | | Husband And Wife Fraudsters Extradited From Jamaica After Wife’s Failed Attempt To Flee Justice 2026-09-08 | | Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison 2026-09-08 | | Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country 2026-09-08 | | Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man for assaulting postal worker 2026-09-08 | | Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy 2026-09-08 | | Missouri Man Sentenced for $284,000 Pandemic Rental Assistance Fraud 2026-09-08 | | Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Remo 2026-09-08 | | 45-Year-Old Canóvanas Man Arrested for Child Exploitation 2026-09-08 | | Montgomery County Man Charged With Cyberstalking in Connection With Messages Targeting Local Officia 2026-09-08 | | Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prio 2026-09-08 | | 60-Year-Old Man from Arecibo Found Guilty of Child Exploitation 2026-09-08 | | New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy 2026-09-08 | | Palmetto Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm 2026-09-08 | | Del Rio Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession 2026-09-08 | | Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally transporting a stolen motor vehicle 2026-09-08 | | Sanford Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking 2026-09-08 | | Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges 2026-09-08 | | Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years’ Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of C 2026-09-08 | | Following trial, Hamilton man sentenced to 2 years for unlawfully possessing firearms 2026-09-08 | | Illegal alien sentenced for firearm possession after visa overstay in Houston 2026-09-08 | | Kansas City Man Arrested for Illegal Firearms 2026-09-08 | | Three Individuals Indicted for Illegal Acquisition of Firearms and Unauthorized Entry Into a Secure 2026-09-08 | | Columbus Man Receives 27-Year Federal Sentence for Sexually Exploiting Child in His Care 2026-09-08 | | Fannin County man sentenced to federal prison for buying and selling firearms without a license 2026-09-08 | | Armed Drug Trafficker from Springfield, Massachusetts Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiring to Dist 2026-09-08 | | Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for New England Bank Robbery Spre 2026-09-08 | | Camden County Business Owner Admits to Employment Tax Fraud 2026-09-08 | | Pizza Store Robber Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison 2026-09-08 | | Mexican National Sentenced to 24 Months for Illegal Reentry 2026-09-08 | | Clovis woman arrested for multimillion dollar fraud scheme 2026-09-08 | | Omaha Man Granted Presidential Clemency Convicted Again: Felon in Possession of a Firearm 2026-09-08 | | Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abu 2026-09-08 | | Omaha Men and Federal Inmate Sentenced for Cedar Bluffs Armed Bank Robbery 2026-09-08 | | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions 2026-09-08 | | Chicago Man Indicted for Interstate Threats 2026-09-08 | | Two Dominican Republic Men Each Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Roles in Grandparent Fraud Sche 2026-09-08 | | Former Physician at Veteran Affairs Medical Center Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses 2026-09-08 | | Des Moines Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornograp 2026-09-08 | | Stockton man sentenced to 9.5 years in prison for robbing a Fire Wings restaurant at gunpoint 2026-09-08 | | Buffalo man sentenced for attacking postal carrier 2026-09-08 | | Madison Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor 2026-09-08 | | Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft, Passport Fraud, and Firearms Off 2026-09-08 | | Eastern NC Drug Pipeline Dismantled: 35 Years Federal Prison 2026-09-08 | OPA | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Million 2026-09-08 | | Phoenix Man Sentenced to 171 Months in Prison for 2022 Peoria Carjacking 2026-09-08 | | Singaporean Ringleader of $245 Million Cryptocurrency Racketeering Enterprise Pleads Guilty in Washi 2026-09-08 | | Texas couple sentenced for operating website selling smuggled pesticides and veterinary drugs 2026-09-08 | | New Appointments Strengthen the USAO EDNC Commitment to Safer Communities 2026-09-08 | | Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti 2026-09-08 | | Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal Inv 2026-09-08 | | First week of September brings 239 more cases in continued border enforcement efforts 2026-09-08 | | Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine 2026-09-08 | | Columbus man sentenced to 15 years in prison for cyberstalking exes, creating AI-generated obscene m 2026-09-08 | | New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Federal Gun Contro 2026-09-08 | | Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minors 2026-09-08 | | New Britain Man Charged with Gun Possession and Drug Distribution Offenses 2026-09-08 | | Final Defendant in Child Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison 2026-09-08 | | Six Defendants Indicted by Grand Jury for Conspiracy to Steal $5.1 Million in Business Checks 2026-09-08 | | Oregon Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Abusing His Role at Mobile Phone Store to Gi 2026-09-08 | OPA | Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti 2026-09-08 | | Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Furthering a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy 2026-09-08 | | Foreign National Pleads Guilty To Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Advantage Programs

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01JfSVVf5jcRssJ5E7yh3kBM, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.328

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,datetime,collections\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n    try:\n        d=json.load(open(f)); inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n    except Exception: continue\n    for r in inner.get('results',[]): rows[r['uuid']]=r\ndef day(r): return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d')\nc=collections.Counter(day(r) for r in rows.values() if day(r)>='2026-09-01')\nprint(sorted(c.items()))\nfor r in sorted(rows.values(),key=lambda r:r['date']):\n    d=day(r)\n    if '2026-09-04'<=d<='2026-09-08':\n        print(d,'|', ('OPA' if '/opa/pr/' in r['url'] else '   '),'|',r['title'].strip()[:100])\nEOF"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01JfSVVf5jcRssJ5E7yh3kBM",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.329

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01JfSVVf5jcRssJ5E7yh3kBM",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport js...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169718160
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.330

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01JfSVVf5jcRssJ5E7yh3kBM",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "[('2026-09-02', 56), ('2026-09-03', 70), ('2026-09-04', 53), ('2026-09-05', 1), ('2026-09-08', 63), ('2026-09-09', 78), ('2026-09-10', 67), ('2026-09-11', 52)]\n2026-09-04 |     | Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registrati\n2026-09-04 |     | Federal Jury Convicts Two Defendants of Conspiring To Retaliate Against Individuals Who Cooperated W\n2026-09-04 |     | Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\n2026-09-04 |     | Dent County Caregiver Admits Stealing from Client\n2026-09-04 |     | Fugitive Who Stole Dead Man’s Identity Sentenced\n2026-09-04 |     | Montgomery Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses\n2026-09-04 |     | Christian Castro Indicted by Grand Jury for Making False Statements\n2026-09-04 |     | Franklin Towne Charter High School and Its Former CEO Agree to Pay Nearly $4 Million to Resolve Clai\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\n2026-09-04 |     | Dallas man sentenced to 720 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and offenses committed while a\n2026-09-04 |     | Med Spa Owner Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Performing Thousands of Counterfeit Botox and Fil\n2026-09-04 |     | Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\n2026-09-04 |     | Georgian National Charged for Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of $1.3 Billion Health Care Fraud Schem\n2026-09-04 |     | Fairbanks man sentenced to 30 years for carrying a machinegun during a drug trafficking crime\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Justice Department Reaches Proposed Consent Decree with Pinnacle,  One of America’s Largest Landlord\n2026-09-04 |     | Repeat Offender Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for His Ninth Felony Conviction\n2026-09-04 |     | Husband And Wife Charged With Alien Voting\n2026-09-04 |     | Federal Fraud Charges Filed Against Former Indianapolis Daycare Operator\n2026-09-04 |     | U.S. Attorney’s Office Committed to Protecting Children in the Digital Age\n2026-09-04 |     | Co-Conspirators Sentenced for Directing Fentanyl Distribution While Incarcerated\n2026-09-04 |     | Ponchatoula Woman Guilty of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds\n2026-09-04 |     | Federal Court Sentences Former Substitute Teacher to 40 Years in Prison for the  Sexual Exploitation\n2026-09-04 |     | Seventeen Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation of Fentanyl Trafficking Network in S\n2026-09-04 |     | Owner of Tax Prep Business Found Guilty of Conspiring to Defraud the IRS\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Ohio Company Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case\n2026-09-04 |     | South Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Benefic\n2026-09-04 |     | Panga Boat Pilot Sentenced in Human Smuggling Event that Killed Five\n2026-09-04 |     | Armed Waterbury Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison\n2026-09-04 |     | Galloway car dealership owner pleads guilty to importing counterfeit air bags\n2026-09-04 |     | New Orleans Man Guilty of Receiving Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors\n2026-09-04 |     | Raleigh Drug Ringleader Convicted at Federal Guns and Drugs Trial\n2026-09-04 |     | Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime\n2026-09-04 |     | Husband and Wife Sentenced in International Property Theft Scheme\n2026-09-04 |     | District of Arizona Charges 265 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week\n2026-09-04 |     | Illegal Alien From Mexico Charged With Alien Voting\n2026-09-04 |     | Dog Fighting Investigation Results in Largest Single Property Dog Seizure in South Carolina History,\n2026-09-04 |     | Man Sentenced to 76 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing or Attempting To Rob Four Banks in Chicago\n2026-09-04 |     | Jefferson County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the \n2026-09-04 |     | Jamaican Citizen Charged With Illegal Reentry\n2026-09-04 |     | Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $4M in Drug Trafficking Proceeds\n2026-09-04 |     | Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm\n2026-09-04 |     | Illegal Alien from Brazil Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal\n2026-09-04 |     | Bozeman men sentenced to prison for trafficking meth from Las Vegas\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Using an Underground Tunnel\n2026-09-04 |     | Clewiston Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentany\n2026-09-04 |     | Mexican national sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison for being a deported alien found in the\n2026-09-04 | OPA | Illegal Alien from Georgia Charged for Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of $1.3B Health Care Fraud Sch\n2026-09-04 |     | Romanian fugitive apprehended in Washington state after fleeing prosecution in Georgia\n2026-09-04 |     | Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Voting in the 2022 Election\n2026-09-04 |     | Minnesota Pool Contractor Sentenced to 60 Months’ Imprisonment for Defrauding 21 Customers\n2026-09-04 |     | Federal authorities charge ex USCIS official and associate in sweeping corruption scheme involving u\n2026-09-05 |     | It’s a New Day in Fort Worth: Federal operation aims to remove violent offenders from the community\n2026-09-08 |     | Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\n2026-09-08 |     | Husband And Wife Fraudsters Extradited From Jamaica After Wife’s Failed Attempt To Flee Justice\n2026-09-08 |     | Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\n2026-09-08 |     | Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\n2026-09-08 |     | Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man for assaulting postal worker\n2026-09-08 |     | Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy\n2026-09-08 |     | Missouri Man Sentenced for $284,000 Pandemic Rental Assistance Fraud\n2026-09-08 |     | Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Remo\n2026-09-08 |     | 45-Year-Old Canóvanas Man Arrested for Child Exploitation\n2026-09-08 |     | Montgomery County Man Charged With Cyberstalking in Connection With Messages Targeting Local Officia\n2026-09-08 |     | Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prio\n2026-09-08 |     | 60-Year-Old Man from Arecibo Found Guilty of Child Exploitation\n2026-09-08 |     | New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy\n2026-09-08 |     | Palmetto Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm\n2026-09-08 |     | Del Rio Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession\n2026-09-08 |     | Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally transporting a stolen motor vehicle\n2026-09-08 |     | Sanford Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking\n2026-09-08 |     | Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges\n2026-09-08 |     | Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years’ Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of C\n2026-09-08 |     | Following trial, Hamilton man sentenced to 2 years for unlawfully possessing firearms\n2026-09-08 |     | Illegal alien sentenced for firearm possession after visa overstay in Houston\n2026-09-08 |     | Kansas City Man Arrested for Illegal Firearms\n2026-09-08 |     | Three Individuals Indicted for Illegal Acquisition of Firearms and Unauthorized Entry Into a Secure \n2026-09-08 |     | Columbus Man Receives 27-Year Federal Sentence for Sexually Exploiting Child in His Care\n2026-09-08 |     | Fannin County man sentenced to federal prison for buying and selling firearms without a license\n2026-09-08 |     | Armed Drug Trafficker from Springfield, Massachusetts Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiring to Dist\n2026-09-08 |     | Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for New England Bank Robbery Spre\n2026-09-08 |     | Camden County Business Owner Admits to Employment Tax Fraud\n2026-09-08 |     | Pizza Store Robber Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison\n2026-09-08 |     | Mexican National Sentenced to 24 Months for Illegal Reentry\n2026-09-08 |     | Clovis woman arrested for multimillion dollar fraud scheme\n2026-09-08 |     | Omaha Man Granted Presidential Clemency Convicted Again:  Felon in Possession of a Firearm\n2026-09-08 |     | Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abu\n2026-09-08 |     | Omaha Men and Federal Inmate Sentenced for Cedar Bluffs Armed Bank Robbery\n2026-09-08 |     | Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions\n2026-09-08 |     | Chicago Man Indicted for Interstate Threats\n2026-09-08 |     | Two Dominican Republic Men Each Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Roles in Grandparent Fraud Sche\n2026-09-08 |     | Former Physician at Veteran Affairs Medical Center Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses\n2026-09-08 |     | Des Moines Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornograp\n2026-09-08 |     | Stockton man sentenced to 9.5 years in prison for robbing a Fire Wings restaurant at gunpoint\n2026-09-08 |     | Buffalo man sentenced for attacking postal carrier\n2026-09-08 |     | Madison Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor\n2026-09-08 |     | Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft, Passport Fraud, and Firearms Off\n2026-09-08 |     | Eastern NC Drug Pipeline Dismantled: 35 Years Federal Prison\n2026-09-08 | OPA | Russian National Extradited to United States for  Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Million\n2026-09-08 |     | Phoenix Man Sentenced to 171 Months in Prison for 2022 Peoria Carjacking\n2026-09-08 |     | Singaporean Ringleader of $245 Million Cryptocurrency Racketeering Enterprise Pleads Guilty in Washi\n2026-09-08 |     | Texas couple sentenced for operating website selling smuggled pesticides and veterinary drugs\n2026-09-08 |     | New Appointments Strengthen the USAO EDNC Commitment to Safer Communities\n2026-09-08 |     | Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti\n2026-09-08 |     | Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal Inv\n2026-09-08 |     | First week of September brings 239 more cases in continued border enforcement efforts\n2026-09-08 |     | Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine\n2026-09-08 |     | Columbus man sentenced to 15 years in prison for cyberstalking exes, creating AI-generated obscene m\n2026-09-08 |     | New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Federal Gun Contro\n2026-09-08 |     | Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minors\n2026-09-08 |     | New Britain Man Charged with Gun Possession and Drug Distribution Offenses\n2026-09-08 |     | Final Defendant in Child Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison\n2026-09-08 |     | Six Defendants Indicted by Grand Jury for Conspiracy to Steal $5.1 Million in Business Checks\n2026-09-08 |     | Oregon Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Abusing His Role at Mobile Phone Store to Gi\n2026-09-08 | OPA | Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti\n2026-09-08 |     | Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Furthering a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\n2026-09-08 |     | Foreign National Pleads Guilty To Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Advantage Programs\n",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.130196755
}

shell completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_011FKk9qmnnmwj9o96P2uBhC

Input

{ "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,re,datetime\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n try:\n d=json.load(open(f)); inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n except Exception: continue\n for r in inner.get('results',[]): rows[r['uuid']]=r\ndef clean(h):\n t=re.sub('<[^>]+>',' ',h or '').replace(' ',' ').replace('&','&').replace(''',\"'\").replace('“','\"').replace('”','\"')\n return re.sub(r'\\s+',' ',t).strip()\nkeys=['Singaporean Ringleader','False Claim of U.S. Citizenship','Minnesota State Trooper','Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud','Southern Glazer','Nationwide Alcohol Distributor']\nseen=set()\nfor r in rows.values():\n t=r['title']\n if any(k.lower() in t.lower() for k in keys) and t not in seen:\n seen.add(t)\n print('==',datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),'|',t.strip())\n print(r['url']); print(clean(r['body'])[:1100]); print()\nEOF" }

Tool Progress E0096

(no result)

Tool Result E0097

== 2026-09-11 | Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/illinois-woman-sentenced-prison-role-wire-fraud-conspiracy An Illinois woman was sentenced this week to 27 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by submitting false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. “Monika Skinger engaged in a wide-ranging tax fraud scheme that flooded the IRS with fictitious financial instruments, including fraudulent checks,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Skinger attempted to take millions in refunds she had no right to receive. As we did in this case, the Department of Justice will continue to unmask fraudulent actors and swiftly bring them to justice.” According to court documents and statements made in court, Monika Skinger conspired with others to submit false individual and trust tax returns that claimed millions in refunds they were not entitled to receive. To induce the IRS to accept the false refund claims, Skinger personally submitted at least 16 fictitious financial instruments — such as checks, money orders, and payment vouchers — on behalf of herself and ot == 2026-09-10 | Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election A federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election. According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote. “The right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligi == 2026-09-08 | Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years’ Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/minnesota-state-trooper-sentenced-27-years-imprisonment-production-and-distribution MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Jeremy Francis Plonski was sentenced to 324 months in prison and 180 months of supervised release for the production of child pornography and the distribution of child pornography. Plonski was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kate M. Menendez on September 8, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025. According to court documents, from about April 2023 to October 2023, Plonski produced 23 child pornographic videos. In some of the videos, Plonski, who worked as a Minnesota State Trooper, wore his uniform while personally sexually abusing a minor victim. Plonski then distributed videos that depicted him sexually abusing the minor victim on a social media application. “This defendant took an oath to protect the public, but he instead committed one of the most abhorrent offenses imaginable. Today’s sentence represents my office’s commitment to protect vulnerable children and the cooperation among federal and local law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “As we said in our previous st == 2026-09-08 | Singaporean Ringleader of $245 Million Cryptocurrency Racketeering Enterprise Pleads Guilty in Washington D.C. https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty WASHINGTON – Malone Lam, 22, a citizen of Singapore and recent resident of Miami, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. in connection with his role as ringleader of an international cybercrime conspiracy that used social engineering to steal and launder cryptocurrency valued at more than $245 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “If you build a cybercrime empire, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This defendant led an international network that preyed on victims through deception, invaded their privacy, and stole hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Working with our partners at the FBI and IRS-CI, we will continue to hunt down the criminals who weaponize technology to steal from innocent people.” Lam pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of participating in a RICO conspiracy. Judge Kollar-Kotelly set a status hearing December 8, 2026. According to court documents, the criminal enterprise began no later than October 2023 == 2026-09-10 | Nationwide Alcohol Distributor Agrees To Pay Over $12 Million To Resolve Federal Investigation Into Bribery And False Invoicing Practices https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal SAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (“Southern Glazer’s”), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation. The investigation involved Southern Glazer’s executives and employees funding and concealing improper payments and benefits to employees of alcohol retailers, including chain grocery stores in California and elsewhere. In the agreement, Southern Glazer’s admitted to and acknowledged responsibility for the acts of individuals employed by the company, which included years of improper payments and benefits to various alcohol retailer employees in connection with the promotion, purchase, maintenance, and placement of certain alcohol products distributed by Southern Glazer’s, and the use of third-party vendors and false invoices generated to conceal the practice. Several Southern Glazer’s executives based in California, including several Vice Presidents, were directly involved in t

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_011FKk9qmnnmwj9o96P2uBhC, 3 events)

tools_started shell t=118194.331

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "tool_input": {
    "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport json,glob,re,datetime\nrows={}\nfor f in glob.glob('*.txt'):\n    try:\n        d=json.load(open(f)); inner=json.loads(d['content'])\n    except Exception: continue\n    for r in inner.get('results',[]): rows[r['uuid']]=r\ndef clean(h):\n    t=re.sub('<[^>]+>',' ',h or '').replace('&nbsp;',' ').replace('&amp;','&').replace('&#039;',\"'\").replace('&ldquo;','\"').replace('&rdquo;','\"')\n    return re.sub(r'\\s+',' ',t).strip()\nkeys=['Singaporean Ringleader','False Claim of U.S. Citizenship','Minnesota State Trooper','Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud','Southern Glazer','Nationwide Alcohol Distributor']\nseen=set()\nfor r in rows.values():\n    t=r['title']\n    if any(k.lower() in t.lower() for k in keys) and t not in seen:\n        seen.add(t)\n        print('==',datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(int(r['date']),datetime.UTC).strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),'|',t.strip())\n        print(r['url']); print(clean(r['body'])[:1100]); print()\nEOF"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_011FKk9qmnnmwj9o96P2uBhC",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_progress shell t=118194.332

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "shell",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_011FKk9qmnnmwj9o96P2uBhC",
  "status": "running",
  "result": null,
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": null,
  "fields": {
    "progress": {
      "message": "",
      "metadata": {
        "browser_chain": false,
        "command": "cd /workspace/.hark/tool-results/65fa8b85-7d8d-4a4a-82f7-15a18c48c41d && python3 - <<'EOF'\nimport js...",
        "phase": "starting"
      }
    },
    "status": "running",
    "updatedAt": 1789169731095
  }
}

tools_completed shell t=118194.333

Inner payload

{
"tool_name": "shell",
"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_011FKk9qmnnmwj9o96P2uBhC",
"status": "completed",
"result": "== 2026-09-11 | Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/illinois-woman-sentenced-prison-role-wire-fraud-conspiracy\nAn Illinois woman was sentenced this week to 27 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by submitting false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. “Monika Skinger engaged in a wide-ranging tax fraud scheme that flooded the IRS with fictitious financial instruments, including fraudulent checks,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Skinger attempted to take millions in refunds she had no right to receive. As we did in this case, the Department of Justice will continue to unmask fraudulent actors and swiftly bring them to justice.” According to court documents and statements made in court, Monika Skinger conspired with others to submit false individual and trust tax returns that claimed millions in refunds they were not entitled to receive. To induce the IRS to accept the false refund claims, Skinger personally submitted at least 16 fictitious financial instruments — such as checks, money orders, and payment vouchers — on behalf of herself and ot\n\n== 2026-09-10 | Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election\nhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election\nA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election. According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote. “The right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligi\n\n== 2026-09-08 | Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years’ Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/minnesota-state-trooper-sentenced-27-years-imprisonment-production-and-distribution\nMINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Jeremy Francis Plonski was sentenced to 324 months in prison and 180 months of supervised release for the production of child pornography and the distribution of child pornography. Plonski was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kate M. Menendez on September 8, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025. According to court documents, from about April 2023 to October 2023, Plonski produced 23 child pornographic videos. In some of the videos, Plonski, who worked as a Minnesota State Trooper, wore his uniform while personally sexually abusing a minor victim. Plonski then distributed videos that depicted him sexually abusing the minor victim on a social media application. “This defendant took an oath to protect the public, but he instead committed one of the most abhorrent offenses imaginable. Today’s sentence represents my office’s commitment to protect vulnerable children and the cooperation among federal and local law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “As we said in our previous st\n\n== 2026-09-08 | Singaporean Ringleader of $245 Million Cryptocurrency Racketeering Enterprise Pleads Guilty in Washington D.C.\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty\nWASHINGTON – Malone Lam, 22, a citizen of Singapore and recent resident of Miami, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. in connection with his role as ringleader of an international cybercrime conspiracy that used social engineering to steal and launder cryptocurrency valued at more than $245 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “If you build a cybercrime empire, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This defendant led an international network that preyed on victims through deception, invaded their privacy, and stole hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Working with our partners at the FBI and IRS-CI, we will continue to hunt down the criminals who weaponize technology to steal from innocent people.” Lam pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of participating in a RICO conspiracy. Judge Kollar-Kotelly set a status hearing December 8, 2026. According to court documents, the criminal enterprise began no later than October 2023\n\n== 2026-09-10 | Nationwide Alcohol Distributor Agrees To Pay Over $12 Million To Resolve Federal Investigation Into Bribery And False Invoicing Practices\nhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal\nSAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (“Southern Glazer’s”), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation. The investigation involved Southern Glazer’s executives and employees funding and concealing improper payments and benefits to employees of alcohol retailers, including chain grocery stores in California and elsewhere. In the agreement, Southern Glazer’s admitted to and acknowledged responsibility for the acts of individuals employed by the company, which included years of improper payments and benefits to various alcohol retailer employees in connection with the promotion, purchase, maintenance, and placement of certain alcohol products distributed by Southern Glazer’s, and the use of third-party vendors and false invoices generated to conceal the practice. Several Southern Glazer’s executives based in California, including several Vice Presidents, were directly involved in t\n\n",
"error": "",
"elapsed": 0.134156047
}

write_file completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01BHzLXiTHu3cNqcPyWj3NwE

Input

{ "content": "# DOJ enforcement actions announced Sept 5–11, 2026\n\nSource: justice.gov press-release API (news page itself is JS-rendered and returns no text; RSS at /news/rss covers only the current day).\nVolume: Sept 5 (1 item), Sept 6–7 none (weekend + Labor Day), Sept 8 (63), Sept 9 (78), Sept 10 (67), Sept 11 (52).\n\n## Criminal\n- **Paul Richard Randall**, 67, Orange, CA — $270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for medically unnecessary prescription drugs; C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Division — sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178,746,556.22 restitution.\n- **Malone Lam**, 22, Singapore — ringleader of social-engineering crypto theft/laundering enterprise, >$245M; D.D.C. — pleaded guilty Sept 8 to RICO conspiracy; status hearing Dec 8, 2026.\n- **Keith Wakefield**, 52, Chicago — unauthorized Treasury bond trading + embezzlement at IFS Securities, >$30M losses, firm insolvent; N.D. Ill. — jury convicted 2024, sentenced Sept 9 to 16 years 8 months.\n- **Oleksii Lytvynenko**, 44, Ukraine — Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims; M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Division — sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years.\n- **Sergei Filimonov**, 36, Russia — spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, bank account takeovers; N.D. Ga. — extradited from Republic of Georgia, arraigned; charges pending.\n- **Ilit Raz**, founder/ex-CEO Joonko Diversity — securities fraud, fabricated customers/revenue, $27M raised; S.D.N.Y. — pleaded guilty Sept 11 (Judge Hellerstein).\n- **Vuk Vukovic**, founder Oraclum Capital / Orca Bason Fund — securities and wire fraud, false reported returns; S.D.N.Y. — complaint unsealed, presented Sept 10; allegations only.\n- **William Andres Holguin Mendez**, 40, Colombia — $135M laundering of drug proceeds through crypto to 207 Colombian accounts; D.S.C. — indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial.\n- **Zakia Khan**, Brooklyn — $64M Medicaid fraud/kickbacks at adult daycares and home health company; E.D.N.Y. — sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture.\n- **Aanand Shukla**, Jonestown, TX — promoted abusive trust tax shelter, concealed $27M+ income; Tax Section/NFED — sentenced to 60 months.\n- **LeShon Johnson**, former NFL player, OK — large-scale dog fighting/trafficking venture, 190 dogs seized; E.D. Okla. + ENRD — sentenced Sept 10 to 5 years, $30,000 fine.\n- **Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari**, Indian national — false claim of U.S. citizenship to vote Nov 5, 2024; D. Minn. — indicted Sept 10.\n- **Nazira Haji Zada**, 47, Afghan national, Fort Worth — alien terrorist (supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot); Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first-ever case) — removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; permanently inadmissible.\n- **Jeremy Plonski**, Minnesota State Trooper — production/distribution of CSAM while in uniform; D. Minn. — sentenced Sept 8 to 324 months.\n\n## Civil / corporate resolutions\n- **Dompé U.S. Inc.** — FCA/Anti-Kickback: paid Medicare copays via patient-assistance foundations to induce Oxervate purchases; Civil Division + D. Mass. — $32M settlement, Sept 10 (self-disclosed).\n- **Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits** — improper payments/benefits to retailer employees, false invoices; N.D. Cal. — non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M plus compliance undertakings, Sept 10.\n- **United States v. Hawaii, District of Columbia, Arkansas, Utah** — in-state tuition/financial aid for illegal aliens preempted by federal law; Civil Division — complaints filed Sept 10 (final four of a nationwide series).\n- **Environmental Resource Holdings LLC** — Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund; ENRD on behalf of EPA — proposed consent decree lodged Sept 10, ~$125M of work.\n- **UC Berkeley School of Law** — Title VI race discrimination in admissions; Civil Rights Division + Dept. of Education — joint findings letter Sept 9; settlement negotiations or suit to follow.\n- **St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute and Dr. John Michaelos** — false Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests; D. Mass. — $350,000 FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11.\n", "file_path": "/workspace/work/doj-enforcement-2026-09-05_to_09-11.md" }

Result

Successfully wrote 4115 bytes to /workspace/work/doj-enforcement-2026-09-05_to_09-11.md. The user cannot open workspace paths: if this file is for them, deliver it with upload_file rather than telling them the path.

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01BHzLXiTHu3cNqcPyWj3NwE, 2 events)

tools_started write_file t=118194.334

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "write_file",
  "tool_input": {
    "content": "# DOJ enforcement actions announced Sept 5–11, 2026\n\nSource: justice.gov press-release API (news page itself is JS-rendered and returns no text; RSS at /news/rss covers only the current day).\nVolume: Sept 5 (1 item), Sept 6–7 none (weekend + Labor Day), Sept 8 (63), Sept 9 (78), Sept 10 (67), Sept 11 (52).\n\n## Criminal\n- **Paul Richard Randall**, 67, Orange, CA — $270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for medically unnecessary prescription drugs; C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Division — sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178,746,556.22 restitution.\n- **Malone Lam**, 22, Singapore — ringleader of social-engineering crypto theft/laundering enterprise, >$245M; D.D.C. — pleaded guilty Sept 8 to RICO conspiracy; status hearing Dec 8, 2026.\n- **Keith Wakefield**, 52, Chicago — unauthorized Treasury bond trading + embezzlement at IFS Securities, >$30M losses, firm insolvent; N.D. Ill. — jury convicted 2024, sentenced Sept 9 to 16 years 8 months.\n- **Oleksii Lytvynenko**, 44, Ukraine — Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims; M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Division — sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years.\n- **Sergei Filimonov**, 36, Russia — spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, bank account takeovers; N.D. Ga. — extradited from Republic of Georgia, arraigned; charges pending.\n- **Ilit Raz**, founder/ex-CEO Joonko Diversity — securities fraud, fabricated customers/revenue, $27M raised; S.D.N.Y. — pleaded guilty Sept 11 (Judge Hellerstein).\n- **Vuk Vukovic**, founder Oraclum Capital / Orca Bason Fund — securities and wire fraud, false reported returns; S.D.N.Y. — complaint unsealed, presented Sept 10; allegations only.\n- **William Andres Holguin Mendez**, 40, Colombia — $135M laundering of drug proceeds through crypto to 207 Colombian accounts; D.S.C. — indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial.\n- **Zakia Khan**, Brooklyn — $64M Medicaid fraud/kickbacks at adult daycares and home health company; E.D.N.Y. — sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture.\n- **Aanand Shukla**, Jonestown, TX — promoted abusive trust tax shelter, concealed $27M+ income; Tax Section/NFED — sentenced to 60 months.\n- **LeShon Johnson**, former NFL player, OK — large-scale dog fighting/trafficking venture, 190 dogs seized; E.D. Okla. + ENRD — sentenced Sept 10 to 5 years, $30,000 fine.\n- **Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari**, Indian national — false claim of U.S. citizenship to vote Nov 5, 2024; D. Minn. — indicted Sept 10.\n- **Nazira Haji Zada**, 47, Afghan national, Fort Worth — alien terrorist (supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot); Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first-ever case) — removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; permanently inadmissible.\n- **Jeremy Plonski**, Minnesota State Trooper — production/distribution of CSAM while in uniform; D. Minn. — sentenced Sept 8 to 324 months.\n\n## Civil / corporate resolutions\n- **Dompé U.S. Inc.** — FCA/Anti-Kickback: paid Medicare copays via patient-assistance foundations to induce Oxervate purchases; Civil Division + D. Mass. — $32M settlement, Sept 10 (self-disclosed).\n- **Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits** — improper payments/benefits to retailer employees, false invoices; N.D. Cal. — non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M plus compliance undertakings, Sept 10.\n- **United States v. Hawaii, District of Columbia, Arkansas, Utah** — in-state tuition/financial aid for illegal aliens preempted by federal law; Civil Division — complaints filed Sept 10 (final four of a nationwide series).\n- **Environmental Resource Holdings LLC** — Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund; ENRD on behalf of EPA — proposed consent decree lodged Sept 10, ~$125M of work.\n- **UC Berkeley School of Law** — Title VI race discrimination in admissions; Civil Rights Division + Dept. of Education — joint findings letter Sept 9; settlement negotiations or suit to follow.\n- **St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute and Dr. John Michaelos** — false Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests; D. Mass. — $350,000 FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11.\n",
    "file_path": "/workspace/work/doj-enforcement-2026-09-05_to_09-11.md"
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01BHzLXiTHu3cNqcPyWj3NwE",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": "write_file"
}

tools_completed write_file t=118194.335

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "write_file",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01BHzLXiTHu3cNqcPyWj3NwE",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "Successfully wrote 4115 bytes to /workspace/work/doj-enforcement-2026-09-05_to_09-11.md. The user cannot open workspace paths: if this file is for them, deliver it with upload_file rather than telling them the path.",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 0.062144534
}

send_message completeddispatch toolu_bdrk_01E7F7jyf7XYh8VDT54KE9G2

Input

{ "final": true, "in_response_to": "f1a80c30", "message": "justice.gov/news renders empty to a fetcher, so I pulled the same content from DOJ's press-release feed/API. Sept 5–11, 2026: ~260 releases, none on Sept 6–7 (weekend/Labor Day). The major ones:\n\n**Criminal**\n\n| Defendant | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| [Paul Richard Randall, 67](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme) | $270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for unnecessary prescription drugs | C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Div. | Sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178.7M restitution |\n| [Malone Lam, 22 (Singapore)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty) | RICO: social-engineering theft and laundering of $245M in crypto | D.D.C. | Pleaded guilty Sept 8; status hearing Dec 8 |\n| [Keith Wakefield, 52](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading) | Unauthorized Treasury trading, $30M losses, IFS Securities insolvency | N.D. Ill. | Jury convicted 2024; sentenced to 16 yrs 8 mos |\n| [Oleksii Lytvynenko, 44 (Ukraine)](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti) | Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims | M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Div. | Sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years |\n| [Sergei Filimonov, 36 (Russia)](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing) | Spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, account takeovers | N.D. Ga. | Extradited, arraigned; charges pending |\n| [Ilit Raz (Joonko Diversity)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud) | Securities fraud: fake customers and revenue, $27M raised | S.D.N.Y. | Pleaded guilty Sept 11 |\n| [Vuk Vukovic (Oraclum Capital)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors) | Securities and wire fraud: fabricated fund returns | S.D.N.Y. | Complaint unsealed; presented Sept 10, allegations only |\n| [William Holguin Mendez, 40 (Colombia)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money) | $135M laundering of drug proceeds via crypto to 207 Colombian accounts | D.S.C. | Indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial |\n| [Zakia Khan](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-prison-leadership-role-64m-medicaid-fraud-scheme) | $64M Medicaid fraud and kickbacks, Brooklyn adult daycares | E.D.N.Y. | Sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture |\n| [Aanand Shukla](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter) | Promoted abusive trust tax shelter, hid $27M of income | Tax Section / NFED | Sentenced to 60 months |\n| [Nazira Haji Zada, 47](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal) | Alien terrorist, supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot | Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first case ever) | Removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; removed |\n| [Mukeshkumar Chaudhari](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election) | False claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in Nov. 2024 | D. Minn. | Indicted Sept 10 |\n\n**Civil and corporate**\n\n| Party | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| [Dompé U.S.](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient) | FCA/Anti-Kickback: copay foundations used to push Oxervate | Civil Div. + D. Mass. | $32M settlement, self-disclosed |\n| [Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal) | Payments to retailer employees hidden through false invoices | N.D. Cal. | Non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M + compliance |\n| [Hawaii, D.C., Arkansas, Utah](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential) | In-state tuition and aid for illegal aliens conflicts with federal law | Civil Div. | Complaints filed Sept 10 |\n| [Environmental Resource Holdings](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river) | Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund cleanup work | ENRD for EPA | Proposed consent decree lodged, ~$125M of work |\n| [UC Berkeley School of Law](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law) | Title VI race discrimination against white and Asian applicants | Civil Rights Div. + Dept. of Education | Findings letter Sept 9; settlement talks or suit |\n| [St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims) | False Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests | D. Mass. | $350K FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11 |\n\nAlso notable: former NFL player LeShon Johnson got 5 years for a dog-fighting venture (E.D. Okla./ENRD), and a Minnesota state trooper got 27 years for producing CSAM." }

Result

Delivered (confirmed) as 4 messages. Your draft was polished into texting register, so the wording differs from what you wrote; this is exactly what the user sees: 1) DOJ announced 12 major criminal cases and 6 major civil/corporate actions Sept 5–11, 2026. Below is the full breakdown by defendant, allegation, jurisdiction, and status. 2) ### Criminal cases · DOJ Enforcement | Defendant | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status | |---|---|---|---| | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme | $270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for unnecessary prescription drugs | C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Div. | Sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178.7M restitution | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty | RICO: social-engineering theft and laundering of $245M in crypto | D.D.C. | Pleaded guilty Sept 8; status hearing Dec 8 | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading | Unauthorized Treasury trading, $30M losses, IFS Securities insolvency | N.D. Ill. | Jury convicted 2024; sentenced to 16 yrs 8 mos | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti | Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims | M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Div. | Sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing | Spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, account takeovers | N.D. Ga. | Extradited, arraigned; charges pending | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud | Securities fraud: fake customers and revenue, $27M raised | S.D.N.Y. | Pleaded guilty Sept 11 | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors | Securities and wire fraud: fabricated fund returns | S.D.N.Y. | Complaint unsealed; presented Sept 10, allegations only | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money | $135M laundering of drug proceeds via crypto to 207 Colombian accounts | D.S.C. | Indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-prison-leadership-role-64m-medicaid-fraud-scheme | $64M Medicaid fraud and kickbacks, Brooklyn adult daycares | E.D.N.Y. | Sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter | Promoted abusive trust tax shelter, hid $27M of income | Tax Section / NFED | Sentenced to 60 months | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal | Alien terrorist, supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot | Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first case ever) | Removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; removed | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election | False claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in Nov. 2024 | D. Minn. | Indicted Sept 10 | 3) ### Civil and corporate cases · DOJ Enforcement | Party | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status | |---|---|---|---| | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient | FCA/Anti-Kickback: copay foundations used to push Oxervate | Civil Div. + D. Mass. | $32M settlement, self-disclosed | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal | Payments to retailer employees hidden through false invoices | N.D. Cal. | Non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M + compliance | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential | In-state tuition and aid for illegal aliens conflicts with federal law | Civil Div. | Complaints filed Sept 10 | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river | Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund cleanup work | ENRD for EPA | Proposed consent decree lodged, ~$125M of work | | https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law | Title VI race discrimination against white and Asian applicants | Civil Rights Div. + Dept. of Education | Findings letter Sept 9; settlement talks or suit | | https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims | False Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests | D. Mass. | $350K FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11 | 4) Also notable: former NFL player LeShon Johnson got 5 years for dog-fighting (E.D. Okla./ENRD), and a Minnesota state trooper got 27 years for producing CSAM. These are your words now, and this is the whole reply: the delivery layer chose its density and shape by design. Never dispute, re-explain, or apologize for the phrasing, and never send a supplement to restore detail it left out. Only a final send settles its request. Never chase wording with another send. If a fact in it is wrong and would change what the user does, correct it when their next message arrives. Nothing else is open: no request awaits a reply and no work is running. A response with no tool call ends the run. answers: f1a80c30-28c9-4d49-a974-4d4804d4c51d

Sub-agent trace (toolu_bdrk_01E7F7jyf7XYh8VDT54KE9G2, 2 events)

tools_started send_message t=118194.336

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "send_message",
  "tool_input": {
    "final": true,
    "in_response_to": "f1a80c30",
    "message": "justice.gov/news renders empty to a fetcher, so I pulled the same content from DOJ's press-release feed/API. Sept 5–11, 2026: ~260 releases, none on Sept 6–7 (weekend/Labor Day). The major ones:\n\n**Criminal**\n\n| Defendant | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| [Paul Richard Randall, 67](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme) | $270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for unnecessary prescription drugs | C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Div. | Sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178.7M restitution |\n| [Malone Lam, 22 (Singapore)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty) | RICO: social-engineering theft and laundering of $245M in crypto | D.D.C. | Pleaded guilty Sept 8; status hearing Dec 8 |\n| [Keith Wakefield, 52](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading) | Unauthorized Treasury trading, $30M losses, IFS Securities insolvency | N.D. Ill. | Jury convicted 2024; sentenced to 16 yrs 8 mos |\n| [Oleksii Lytvynenko, 44 (Ukraine)](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti) | Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims | M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Div. | Sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years |\n| [Sergei Filimonov, 36 (Russia)](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing) | Spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, account takeovers | N.D. Ga. | Extradited, arraigned; charges pending |\n| [Ilit Raz (Joonko Diversity)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud) | Securities fraud: fake customers and revenue, $27M raised | S.D.N.Y. | Pleaded guilty Sept 11 |\n| [Vuk Vukovic (Oraclum Capital)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors) | Securities and wire fraud: fabricated fund returns | S.D.N.Y. | Complaint unsealed; presented Sept 10, allegations only |\n| [William Holguin Mendez, 40 (Colombia)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money) | $135M laundering of drug proceeds via crypto to 207 Colombian accounts | D.S.C. | Indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial |\n| [Zakia Khan](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-prison-leadership-role-64m-medicaid-fraud-scheme) | $64M Medicaid fraud and kickbacks, Brooklyn adult daycares | E.D.N.Y. | Sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture |\n| [Aanand Shukla](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter) | Promoted abusive trust tax shelter, hid $27M of income | Tax Section / NFED | Sentenced to 60 months |\n| [Nazira Haji Zada, 47](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal) | Alien terrorist, supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot | Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first case ever) | Removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; removed |\n| [Mukeshkumar Chaudhari](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election) | False claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in Nov. 2024 | D. Minn. | Indicted Sept 10 |\n\n**Civil and corporate**\n\n| Party | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| [Dompé U.S.](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient) | FCA/Anti-Kickback: copay foundations used to push Oxervate | Civil Div. + D. Mass. | $32M settlement, self-disclosed |\n| [Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal) | Payments to retailer employees hidden through false invoices | N.D. Cal. | Non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M + compliance |\n| [Hawaii, D.C., Arkansas, Utah](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential) | In-state tuition and aid for illegal aliens conflicts with federal law | Civil Div. | Complaints filed Sept 10 |\n| [Environmental Resource Holdings](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river) | Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund cleanup work | ENRD for EPA | Proposed consent decree lodged, ~$125M of work |\n| [UC Berkeley School of Law](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law) | Title VI race discrimination against white and Asian applicants | Civil Rights Div. + Dept. of Education | Findings letter Sept 9; settlement talks or suit |\n| [St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims) | False Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests | D. Mass. | $350K FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11 |\n\nAlso notable: former NFL player LeShon Johnson got 5 years for a dog-fighting venture (E.D. Okla./ENRD), and a Minnesota state trooper got 27 years for producing CSAM."
  },
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01E7F7jyf7XYh8VDT54KE9G2",
  "parent_dispatch_id": "",
  "handle": "",
  "panel_kind": ""
}

tools_completed send_message t=118194.337

Inner payload

{
  "tool_name": "send_message",
  "dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01E7F7jyf7XYh8VDT54KE9G2",
  "status": "completed",
  "result": "Delivered (confirmed) as 4 messages. Your draft was polished into texting register, so the wording differs from what you wrote; this is exactly what the user sees:\n1) DOJ announced 12 major criminal cases and 6 major civil/corporate actions Sept 5–11, 2026. Below is the full breakdown by defendant, allegation, jurisdiction, and status.\n2) ### Criminal cases · DOJ Enforcement\n\n| Defendant | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme | $270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for unnecessary prescription drugs | C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Div. | Sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178.7M restitution |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty | RICO: social-engineering theft and laundering of $245M in crypto | D.D.C. | Pleaded guilty Sept 8; status hearing Dec 8 |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading | Unauthorized Treasury trading, $30M losses, IFS Securities insolvency | N.D. Ill. | Jury convicted 2024; sentenced to 16 yrs 8 mos |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti | Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims | M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Div. | Sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing | Spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, account takeovers | N.D. Ga. | Extradited, arraigned; charges pending |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud | Securities fraud: fake customers and revenue, $27M raised | S.D.N.Y. | Pleaded guilty Sept 11 |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors | Securities and wire fraud: fabricated fund returns | S.D.N.Y. | Complaint unsealed; presented Sept 10, allegations only |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money | $135M laundering of drug proceeds via crypto to 207 Colombian accounts | D.S.C. | Indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-prison-leadership-role-64m-medicaid-fraud-scheme | $64M Medicaid fraud and kickbacks, Brooklyn adult daycares | E.D.N.Y. | Sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter | Promoted abusive trust tax shelter, hid $27M of income | Tax Section / NFED | Sentenced to 60 months |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal | Alien terrorist, supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot | Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first case ever) | Removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; removed |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election | False claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in Nov. 2024 | D. Minn. | Indicted Sept 10 |\n3) ### Civil and corporate cases · DOJ Enforcement\n\n| Party | Allegation | Jurisdiction | Status |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient | FCA/Anti-Kickback: copay foundations used to push Oxervate | Civil Div. + D. Mass. | $32M settlement, self-disclosed |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal | Payments to retailer employees hidden through false invoices | N.D. Cal. | Non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M + compliance |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential | In-state tuition and aid for illegal aliens conflicts with federal law | Civil Div. | Complaints filed Sept 10 |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river | Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund cleanup work | ENRD for EPA | Proposed consent decree lodged, ~$125M of work |\n| https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law | Title VI race discrimination against white and Asian applicants | Civil Rights Div. + Dept. of Education | Findings letter Sept 9; settlement talks or suit |\n| https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims | False Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests | D. Mass. | $350K FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11 |\n4) Also notable: former NFL player LeShon Johnson got 5 years for dog-fighting (E.D. Okla./ENRD), and a Minnesota state trooper got 27 years for producing CSAM.\nThese are your words now, and this is the whole reply: the delivery layer chose its density and shape by design. Never dispute, re-explain, or apologize for the phrasing, and never send a supplement to restore detail it left out. Only a final send settles its request. Never chase wording with another send. If a fact in it is wrong and would change what the user does, correct it when their next message arrives.\n\nNothing else is open: no request awaits a reply and no work is running. A response with no tool call ends the run.\nanswers: f1a80c30-28c9-4d49-a974-4d4804d4c51d",
  "error": "",
  "elapsed": 27.410328537
}

Normalized evidence

Defendant	Allegation	Jurisdiction	Status
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme	$270M in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for unnecessary prescription drugs	C.D. Cal. / National Fraud Enforcement Div.	Sentenced Sept 9 to 30 years, $178.7M restitution
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/singaporean-ringleader-245-million-cryptocurrency-racketeering-enterprise-pleads-guilty	RICO: social-engineering theft and laundering of $245M in crypto	D.D.C.	Pleaded guilty Sept 8; status hearing Dec 8
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-trader-sentenced-more-16-years-federal-prison-engaging-unauthorized-trading	Unauthorized Treasury trading, $30M losses, IFS Securities insolvency	N.D. Ill.	Jury convicted 2024; sentenced to 16 yrs 8 mos
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ukrainian-national-sentenced-four-years-prison-wire-fraud-conspiracy-connection-conti	Conti ransomware wire fraud conspiracy, 1,000+ victims	M.D. Tenn. / Criminal Div.	Sentenced Sept 10 to 4 years
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-extradited-united-states-bank-account-takeover-fraud-scheme-causing	Spoofed bank sites, 5,000+ stolen credentials, account takeovers	N.D. Ga.	Extradited, arraigned; charges pending
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud	Securities fraud: fake customers and revenue, $27M raised	S.D.N.Y.	Pleaded guilty Sept 11
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors	Securities and wire fraud: fabricated fund returns	S.D.N.Y.	Complaint unsealed; presented Sept 10, allegations only
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money	$135M laundering of drug proceeds via crypto to 207 Colombian accounts	D.S.C.	Indicted Sept 10, detained pending trial
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-prison-leadership-role-64m-medicaid-fraud-scheme	$64M Medicaid fraud and kickbacks, Brooklyn adult daycares	E.D.N.Y.	Sentenced to 76 months, $56M restitution, $5M forfeiture
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter	Promoted abusive trust tax shelter, hid $27M of income	Tax Section / NFED	Sentenced to 60 months
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-removes-alien-terrorist-first-use-united-states-alien-terrorist-removal	Alien terrorist, supported ISIS-inspired Election Day plot	Alien Terrorist Removal Court (first case ever)	Removal order Aug 20, unsealed Sept 11; removed
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election	False claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in Nov. 2024	D. Minn.	Indicted Sept 10

Party	Allegation	Jurisdiction	Status
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient	FCA/Anti-Kickback: copay foundations used to push Oxervate	Civil Div. + D. Mass.	$32M settlement, self-disclosed
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal	Payments to retailer employees hidden through false invoices	N.D. Cal.	Non-prosecution agreement, $12.5M + compliance
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-complaints-against-hawaii-dc-arkansas-and-utah-over-preferential	In-state tuition and aid for illegal aliens conflicts with federal law	Civil Div.	Complaints filed Sept 10
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proposed-125m-settlement-agreement-provides-critical-work-advancing-lower-passaic-river	Diamond Alkali / Lower Passaic River Superfund cleanup work	ENRD for EPA	Proposed consent decree lodged, ~$125M of work
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law	Title VI race discrimination against white and Asian applicants	Civil Rights Div. + Dept. of Education	Findings letter Sept 9; settlement talks or suit
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims	False Medicare/VHA claims for transcranial doppler tests	D. Mass.	$350K FCA settlement with admissions, Sept 11

E0019 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01RZUG41Qwv2qTbcz1zLkbtN

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01RZUG41Qwv2qTbcz1zLkbtN", "elapsed": 2.523772223, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":0},\\\"executionTime\\\":0.71851992607116699},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Judge Bell\\\\u2019s long record of public service, especially his efforts to enact FISA and champion civil rights, exemplified his dedication, integrity, and fearless pursuit of justice. He was not only an outstanding Attorney General, but also a true gentleman. The Justice Department mourns his passing.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:37:10-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777030\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e99b9547-7d65-42c6-9404-68fab0db9543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-05T14:20:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231183207\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231156800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-001\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u0022Judge Bell\\\\u0092s long record of public service, especially his efforts to enact FISA and champion civil rights, exemplified his dedication, integrity, and fearless pursuit of justice. He was not only an outstanding Attorney General, but also a true gentleman. The Justice Department mourns his passing.\\\\u0022\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Statement of Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on the Death of Former Attorney General Griffin Bell\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/statement-attorney-general-michael-b-mukasey-death-former-attorney-general-griffin-bell\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"507fae43-85e6-45f6-aed3-94da8447f676\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 John B. Sawyer, a former trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston, S.C., to using excessive force during an arrest.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E During his plea, Sawyer acknowledged that he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer when, on May 26, 2006, he unnecessarily and repeatedly kicked the head and neck area of a man who had been apprehended in Sumter County after a chase on Interstate 95. Sawyer agreed that his conduct violated federal law and the constitutional rights of the arrested man.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The overwhelming majority of police officers perform their duties with honor and professionalism,\\\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. \\\\u0022However, if an officer commits a criminal act by violating another person\\\\u2019s civil rights, the Justice Department will not hesitate to step in and vigorously enforce the law.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022This is an important case, as the public places great trust in law enforcement to protect and serve them,\\\\u0022 said Walt Wilkins, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. \\\\u0022When an officer violates this oath, and the civil rights of those he encounters, the public\\\\u2019s trust is eroded and fellow officers suffer as a result. We are dedicated to prosecuting those who engage in abusive police conduct, and who tarnish the reputation of the dedicated officers who serve each day with honor and distinction.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alston C. Badger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray formerly of the Civil Rights Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:19:52-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738775992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-05T16:50:50-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231192250\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231156800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"08-002\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"John B. Sawyer, a former trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston, S.C., to using excessive force during an arrest.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-south-carolina-highway-patrol-trooper-pleads-guilty-civil-rights-violation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f5304777-60c9-49b2-9f02-db5176fef320\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago advertising firm, has agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the U.S. Army, the Justice Department announced today. The firm had a contract from 2000 to 2005 with the Army to provide advertising services for the military service\\\\u2019s recruiting mission.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The settlement resolves allegations that Leo Burnett improperly billed the Army while developing the recruiting Web site and for advertising under the \\\\u0022Army of One\\\\u0022 multimedia advertising campaign. Leo Burnett will make a cash payment of $12.1 million and credit the Army $3.4 million in work performed, but not billed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The Justice Department is committed to vigorously pursuing all those who knowingly submit false claims with respect to military contracts,\\\\u0022 said Gregory G. Katsas, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The settlement resolves the lawsuit filed on behalf of the U.S. government by former Leo Burnett employees, Greg Hamilton and Michele Casey, who received $2,790,000 as their share of the recovery in the case. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The litigation and settlement of this case were conducted by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The Pentagon\\\\u2019s Defense Criminal Investigative Service will aggressively pursue allegations of fraud that are perpetrated against the Department of Defense,\\\\u0022 said Sharon Woods, Defense Criminal Investigative Service director.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The American people trust us to ensure their tax dollars are spent appropriately and we will continue to aggressively seek out and investigate those who intend to defraud the Army and the American taxpayer,\\\\u0022 said Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the Inspector General for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Command - Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E This case was prosecuted as part of a National Procurement Fraud Initiative. In October 2006, the Deputy Attorney General announced the formation of a National Procurement Fraud Task Force designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The Procurement Fraud Task Force is chaired by the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division and includes the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies. This case, as well as others brought by members of the task force, demonstrate the Justice Department\\\\u2019s commitment to helping ensure the integrity of the government procurement process.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:21:33-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776093\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T12:25:11-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231262711\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-004\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago advertising firm, has agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the U.S. Army. The firm had a contract from 2000 to 2005 with the Army to provide advertising services for the military service\\\\u0092s recruiting mission.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chicago Advertising Firm Pays United States $15.5 Million to Settle Overbilling Allegations on Army Contract\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/chicago-advertising-firm-pays-united-states-155-million-settle-overbilling-allegations-army\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e9c7d691-4741-4450-a6f5-c342afdbda0d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - A former chief operating officer of Investment Properties of America, based in Richmond, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and to making a material false statement to federal investigators, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Dana Boentefor the Eastern District of Virginia announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E On July 10, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Lara Coleman, 40, for her role in a scheme to defraud and obtain millions of dollars in client funds held by the 1031 Tax Group (1031TG), a qualified intermediary company owned by the same person who owned Investment Properties of America.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Coleman, a resident of Houston, entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Richmond before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of the superseding indictment that charged her with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and to a one-count information charging her with making a material false statement to federal investigators.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to the plea agreement and statement of facts, Coleman and others used 1031TG and its subsidiaries in a scheme to obtain millions of dollars of client funds by false pretenses. Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code allows investment property owners to defer the capital gains tax that would otherwise be due on properties sold, if the proceeds are used to purchase new property in a specified time frame. To facilitate such exchanges, investment property owners deposit the proceeds from the sale of their property with qualified intermediaries and sign exchange agreements, which include various promises by the qualified intermediaries to clients regarding the safekeeping of exchange funds in trust.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In the plea agreement and statement of facts, Coleman admitted that 1031TG falsely represented that it would hold client funds solely to complete the clients\\\\u2019 1031 exchanges. Coleman admitted that after obtaining clients\\\\u2019 exchange proceeds with that false promise, she and others misappropriated approximately $132 million in client funds to support the lavish lifestyle of the owner of 1031TG, pay operating expenses for the owner\\\\u2019s various companies, invest in commercial real estate and purchase additional qualified intermediary companies to obtain access to additional client funds. In addition, Coleman admitted that she lied to federal investigators about statements that she had made in 2006 to internal attorneys for Investment Properties of America about the amount of money that she and others had misappropriated.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Coleman has agreed, under the terms of the plea, to a sentence of 10 years in prison. At sentencing, scheduled for May 1, 2009, she also faces a $500,000 fine. In addition, the indictment seeks forfeiture of all funds and assets owned by Coleman that were derived from or connected to the misappropriation of the approximately $132 million in 1031TG funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In related cases, Robert D. Field II and Richard E. Simring have pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to defraud 1031TG customers. Field was the chief financial officer and Simring was the chief legal officer of a holding company that was\\\\u0026nbsp;set up, in part,\\\\u0026nbsp;to oversee both Investment Properties of America and 1031TG, however neither company was ever officially made a subsidiary of the holding company.\\\\u0026nbsp;Both\\\\u0026nbsp;men\\\\u0026nbsp;are\\\\u0026nbsp;also scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2009.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Dry for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Brigham Cannon of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section. This continuing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:16:18-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738775778\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T14:54:25-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231271665\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-006\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A former chief operating officer of Investment Properties of America, based in Richmond, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and to making a material false statement to federal investigators.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty in $132 Million Scheme \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nto Defraud Clients of Funds Allegedly Held in Trust\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-chief-operating-officer-pleads-guilty-132-million-scheme-defraud-clients-funds\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ff12b8-a232-4ec1-9855-8534cbefd5e6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014Tyson Foods Inc. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum fine for willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker\\\\u2019s death in its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark., the Justice Department announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the information filed along with a plea agreement, Tyson operated several RVAF plants that recycled poultry products into protein and fats for the animal food industry. As part of the rendering process in four of the plants, the company used high-pressure steam processors called hydrolyzers to convert the poultry feather into feather meal.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDecomposition of biological material such as poultry feathers produces hydrogen sulfide gas, an acute-acting toxic substance. Employees at the Tyson facilities often were exposed to the toxic gas when working on or near the hydrolyzers, which required frequent adjustment and replacement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs of October 2003, corporate safety and regional management were aware that hydrogen sulfide gas was present in the RVAF facilities and three of the four facilities with hydrolizers had taken measures to protect employees from hydrogen sulfide gas near the hydrolyzers. However, Tyson Foods did not take sufficient steps to implement controls or protective equipment to reduce exposure within prescribed limits or provide effective training to employees on hydrogen sulfide gas at the Texarkana facility despite an identical exposure, resulting in hydrogen sulfide poisoning of an RVAF Texarkana employee in March 2002.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a result, at approximately 1 a.m. on Oct. 10, 2003, RVAF maintenance employee Jason Kelley was overcome with hydrogen sulfide gas while repairing a leak from a hydrolyzer and later died. Another employee and two emergency responders were hospitalized due to exposure during the rescue attempt. Two employees also were treated at the scene.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Federal laws require employers to undertake steps that limit exposure to dangerous substances like the gas that killed Jason Kelley. Tyson Foods willfully ignored these regulations and today is being held responsible,\\\\u0022 said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022The Justice Department takes its enforcement responsibility seriously and companies that ignore these laws and risk their employees\\\\u2019 lives will be prosecuted.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires that employers furnish places of employment free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. This includes taking steps to ensure that employee exposure to dangerous substances such as hydrogen sulfide gas remains within prescribed limits. Tyson Foods pleaded guilty today to a \\\\u0022willful violation of an OSHA standard resulting in the death of an employee,\\\\u0022 the most serious offense available to OSHA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to today\\\\u2019s plea agreement, Tyson Food has agreed to pay $500,000, the maximum criminal fine. The company also will serve one year probation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor and prosecuted by the Justice Department\\\\u0027s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Arkansas under the Environmental Crimes Section\\\\u2019s worker endangerment initiative.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:04:59-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738865099\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T15:02:03-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231272123\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-005\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyson Foods Inc. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum fine for willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker\\\\u2019s death in its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay Fine for OSHA Violation That Led to Worker Death\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/tyson-foods-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-pay-fine-osha-violation-led-worker-death\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1995ed1e-765f-4607-b885-792cfcc7a03b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The President\\\\u2019s Corporate Fraud Task Force has been expanded to include six new agencies to help in the focus on mortgage and securitization fraud cases, Deputy Attorney General Mark R. Filip, the Task Force Chairman, announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Task Force\\\\u2019s expanded roster \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E includes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The new member agencies represent a continuing focus by the Task Force to \\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003Ecrack down on mortgage fraud, particularly with regard to ongoing investigations into securitization fraud. The additions mark the largest expansion of the Task Force since it was formed in July 2002.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022AGDraft\\\\u0022 style=\\\\u0022margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u201cThe Task Force is uniquely suited to providing the kind of thoughtfulness and collaboration that can be invaluable in tackling mortgage fraud at the corporate level, and in trying to analyze whether and when law enforcement action is appropriate,\\\\u201d said Deputy Attorney General Filip. \\\\u201cThese new members reflect the breadth and depth of the mortgage crisis that we are now confronting, and the urgency of the task before us.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In addition to remarks by the Deputy Attorney General, the Task Force was briefed today by representatives from several of the regulatory agencies on their efforts to tackle mortgage fraud and heard from the Special Inspector General of the newly formed TARP.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Task Force\\\\u2019s current members include the Assistant Attorneys General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil and Tax Divisions, the Director of the FBI, seven U.S. Attorneys Offices, the Secretaries of the Departments of Treasury and Labor, and the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Communications Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development\\\\u0027s Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Since July 2002, the task force has yielded remarkable results with nearly 1,300 corporate fraud convictions to date, including more than 200 chief executive officers and presidents, more than 120 corporate vice presidents, and more than 50 chief financial officers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E President Bush created the President\\\\u2019s Corporate Fraud Task Force on July 9, 2002 to restore public and investor confidence in America\\\\u2019s corporations following a wave of major corporate scandals. Since its inception, the Task Force has compiled a strong record of combating corporate fraud and punishing those who violate the trust of employees and investors. Prosecutors and agency attorneys who are part of the Task Force have brought charges for accounting fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, false statements, money laundering, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, stock option backdating and conspiracy, among others. More information on the task force can be found at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/cftf\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/cftf\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E .\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:46:23-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777583\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2121930-8c93-4acc-8386-e8f63b538a51\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Deputy Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T16:13:23-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231276403\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-003\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Task Force\\\\u0092s expanded roster includes the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The new member agencies represent a continuing focus by the Task Force to crack down on mortgage fraud, particularly with regard to ongoing investigations into securitization fraud.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"President\\\\u0092s Corporate Fraud Task Force Adds Six New Member Agencies\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/president-s-corporate-fraud-task-force-adds-six-new-member-agencies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6eac10ec-f182-437e-8d57-009a9059196b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014A multi-party settlement involving the federal government, the state of New Jersey and approximately 300 parties will ensure that clean-up efforts continue to be funded at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site Landfill (CFS) in Morris County, N.J., the Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAmong the many parties potentially responsible for contamination at the site are Honeywell International Inc., Warner-Lambert Company doing business as Pfizer, the Colgate-Palmolive Company as a successor to The Mennen Company, Mars Inc., and Waste Management.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder terms of a consent decree lodged in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., the defendants will pay at least $61 million in past costs with interest running from Dec. 8, 2007 with up to an additional $8 million as other municipal defendants join; pay more than $3.2 million for natural resource damage claims to be used for restoration projects; and purchase a $27 million annuity paying $900,000 a year for 30 years for the continued performance of the remedy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe CFS site is contaminated with both chemical wastes and refuse as a result of its use as a sanitary landfill from the early 1950s until it was closed down in 1981. A 1986 EPA Record of Decision called for the containment of the waste through a landfill cap and continuous operation of a pump and treat facility. The cap and pump and treat facility have been in place for more than 10 years. The state is currently conducting a study of the deep aquifer to determine what additional work may be required.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s agreement is an excellent result that recovers money spent by federal and state agencies to clean up contamination at the site and provides funding for the remaining work for years to come,\\\\u0022 said Michael Guzman, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022This legal action, which has spanned more than 10 years, is an example of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s dedication to protecting the environment and taxpayer dollars while holding those responsible for the costs of cleanup.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022With this important settlement, we are recovering most of the money that EPA and the state spent to clean up this site,\\\\u0022 said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Region 2 Administrator. \\\\u0022This is an example of Superfund working just as it should. We went forward with the cleanup while still pursuing those responsible for the contamination, with today\\\\u2019s successful result.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe CFS site is located in Chester and Washington Townships in Chester, N.J. Contaminants found in the ground and surface waters include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and chlorethane.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey, is subject to a 30-day federal comment period and a statutory state comment period, as well as final court approval. The consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T16:43:50-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231278230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-007\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA multi-party settlement involving the federal government, the state of New Jersey and approximately 300 parties will ensure that clean-up efforts continue to be funded at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site Landfill (CFS) in Morris County, N.J.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Settlement Clears Way for Continued Funding of New Jersey Superfund Cleanup\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/settlement-clears-way-continued-funding-new-jersey-superfund-cleanup\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"34d95a06-3296-4a66-97c0-b9f8470cea9b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Dennis G. Sartain of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The judge found the tax loss to be more than $1million and the fraud loss to be nearly $3.7 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In November 2007, a federal grand jury returned a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/ohs\\\\/Press\\\\/11-16-07-Col.pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E superseding indictment\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E against Sartain, charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, four counts of aiding in the filing of false tax returns, one count of aiding and abetting credit and loan application fraud and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering. In February 2008, Sartain pleaded guilty to all charges. According to court documents, Sartain was the accountant for two Columbus, Ohio, businesses involved in home building and real estate brokerage services.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to the indictment, Sartain conspired with others to pay the Realtors and others who worked for these two companies \\\\u0022under the table.\\\\u0022 Court documents asserted that Sartain either prepared false Forms 1099 that underreported the amount of compensation paid to the individuals working for the companies, or he did not prepare and file any Forms 1099 with the IRS reporting any compensation paid. In addition, the superseding indictment alleged that Sartain prepared or helped prepare false individual income tax returns that underreported the income earned and taxes owed by the individuals who had received payments from these companies. Finally, the indictment claimed that Sartain and others shredded and discarded documents and business records and concealed electronic records maintained on computers and memory sticks that were relevant to the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Sartain also pleaded guilty to filing false individual income tax returns on behalf of himself and his wife. He did not report all of the income he was paid by one of these companies in the years 2001 through 2004. According to the superseding indictment, in two of those four years, Sartain listed his occupation as \\\\u0022unemployed.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Additionally, Sartain admitted aiding in the submission of a false loan application by helping submit false payroll check stubs to a mortgage company. The false payroll stubs misrepresented the loan applicant\\\\u2019s position and salary for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a mortgage.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Finally, Sartain aided and abetted money laundering by engaging in conduct that contributed to a $54,295 payment to the buyer of a home sold by a local real estate business, according to court documents. That payment represented excess fraudulently obtained loan proceeds derived from the credit and loan application fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s sentence shows that taxpayers who fail to comply with their federal tax obligations or assist others in doing so will pay a heavy price,\\\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division. \\\\u0022Mr. Sartain has been branded a convicted felon for the rest of his life, will spend ten years in prison, and still has to pay back all of the taxes plus interest and steep penalties.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Paying individuals \\\\u2018under the table\\\\u2019 in an effort to circumvent the tax laws is criminal activity,\\\\u0022 said Eileen Mayer, IRS Chief, Criminal Investigation. \\\\u0022Unfortunately, there are individuals who are relentless in their efforts to thwart our nation\\\\u0027s tax laws; however, we are equally relentless in our efforts to investigative these individuals and hold them accountable.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In addition to the charges for which he was sentenced today, Sartain faces additional charges stemming from a September 2008 indictment for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. This matter is currently scheduled for a December 2008 trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Assistant Attorney General Hochman commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Jill M. Cassara and Sean B. O\\\\u2019 Connell, who prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E More information about the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:38:26-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777106\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T17:30:31-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231281031\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-008\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Dennis G. Sartain of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. The judge found the tax loss to be more than $1million and the fraud loss to be nearly $3.7 million.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Columbus, Ohio, Accountant Sentenced to 120 Months for Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/columbus-ohio-accountant-sentenced-120-months-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"47b886cf-2bbd-4860-942f-6bacbcd0d6f9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment today charging U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent, 59, with aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. Kent was previously indicted on Aug. 28, 2008, on one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of abusive sexual contact of a clerk\\\\u2019s office employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The superseding indictment charges three counts based on alleged offenses involving an additional victim who is also a court employee. The first two additional counts charge Kent with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. The third count of the superseding indictment charges obstruction of justice related to an inquiry by a special investigative committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit into a complaint of judicial misconduct filed against Kent by the clerk\\\\u0027s office employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Chief for Litigation Peter J. Ainsworth and Trial Attorneys John P. Pearson and AnnaLou T. Tirol of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Section Chief William M. Welch II. This case is being investigated by the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:31:19-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776679\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-06T19:01:40-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231286500\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231243200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-009\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment today charging U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent, 59, with aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. District Court Judge Charged in Superseding Indictment with Aggravated Sexual Abuse \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nand Abusive Sexual Contact\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/us-district-court-judge-charged-superseding-indictment-aggravated-sexual-abuse-and-abusive\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c7ad51a-0de1-4ab2-b983-7a8d5dfae8ef\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 A federal court in Sacramento, Calif., issued a preliminary injunction ordering Capitol Waste Inc. and Iva and Kenneth Whitmire of Sacramento to comply with federal employment tax withholding requirements and to timely pay all present and future employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax liabilities, the Justice Department announced today. Capitol Waste, Inc. and the Whitmires agreed to the preliminary injunction order.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Justice Department filed suit on Oct. 8, 2008, seeking to enjoin the defendants from interfering with the administration of the Internal Revenue laws. The complaint alleges that the defendants have failed to comply fully with Capitol Waste\\\\u2019s employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax obligations since 2000. According to the complaint, Capitol Waste failed to pay almost $2.6 million in federal employment and unemployment taxes between 2000 and 2007.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to court documents, Capitol Waste is a commercial waste disposal business based in Sacramento County, Calif. The complaint also alleges that the Whitmires have failed to comply with their individual income tax obligations since 2000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Capitol Waste, Inc. was also ordered to file of all of its back employment, unemployment and income tax returns, and the Whitmires are required to file all of their back individual income tax returns within 90 days. The court order also prevents Capitol Waste from transferring any assets that would prevent timely payment of all present and future tax liabilities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022All employers must comply with federal employment tax laws,\\\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division. \\\\u0022Employers face not only a federal court injunction for failing to withhold and pay federal taxes, but also significant civil penalties and, in some cases, criminal prosecution. When employers fail to withhold FICA and income taxes, they are harming their employees as well as the United States, and the government will take action.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Assistant Attorney General Hochman thanked Tax Division trial attorney Adair F. Boroughs, who is handling the case for the government, for her efforts. More information about the Justice Department and its efforts to enforce the federal employment tax laws is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/tax\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:22:59-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776179\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T10:29:20-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231342160\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-010\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A federal court in Sacramento, Calif., issued a preliminary injunction ordering Capitol Waste Inc. and Iva and Kenneth Whitmire of Sacramento to comply with federal employment tax withholding requirements and to timely pay all present and future employment tax, unemployment tax and income tax liabilities. Capitol Waste, Inc. and the Whitmires agreed to the preliminary injunction order.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Court Orders Sacramento Employer to Timely Pay Withholding and Unemployment Taxes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/court-orders-sacramento-employer-timely-pay-withholding-and-unemployment-taxes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dcd89c49-29ee-4330-96a6-cb5287cfc69b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The Department of Justice announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging three Staten Island, N.Y., men with conspiring to assault African-Americans in retaliation for President-Elect Barack Obama\\\\u2019s election victory.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Ralph Nicoletti and Michael Contreras, both 18, and Brian Carranza, 21, were arrested late Tuesday and are scheduled for arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann in Brooklyn. As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, on the night of Nov. 4, 2008, shortly after learning of Barack Obama\\\\u2019s election victory, the group, along with a fourth friend, decided to find African-Americans to assault.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022It is shocking and sobering that allegations of racial violence continue in this day and age,\\\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0022The Justice Department takes these allegations very seriously and the Civil Rights Division, working with U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country, will continue to use federal laws to prosecute individuals who conspire to commit such acts of violence and intimidation.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E As cited in the indictment and other court filings, Nicoletti allegedly drove the other defendants to Park Hill, a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Staten Island, where they came upon a 17-year-old African-American who was walking home after watching the election at a friend\\\\u2019s house. One of the defendants yelled \\\\u0022Obama!\\\\u0022 as they passed the youth, and all four men then got out of the car and beat him, using a metal pipe and a collapsible police baton. The young man, who managed to escape and run home, suffered injuries to his head and legs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The group then found an African-American man in the Port Richmond section of Staten Island and assaulted him, pushing him to the ground. The defendants also accosted a Latino man, demanding to know for whom he had voted, and later yelled profanities about Obama as they drove past an Election Night gathering of African-Americans at a hair salon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The group\\\\u2019s final assault involved a man they mistakenly believed to be African-American, whom they spotted walking along Blackford Avenue in Port Richmond. Nicoletti hit him with the car, causing the victim to be thrown onto the hood of the car and into the front windshield, shattering it. Although the victim survived, he was in a coma for a period of time after the attack.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In addition to Becker, the charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph M. Demarest, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Violence and intimidation aimed at interfering with the constitutional rights of every citizen, including the right to vote, which is the bedrock of democracy, will not be tolerated,\\\\u0022 stated United States Attorney Campbell. \\\\u0022Such conduct is loathsome and despicable, and those who engage in it will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful for our partnership with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, the FBI, and the New York City Police Department, which has been vital to the success of this joint investigation and prosecution.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Demarest stated, \\\\u0022The defendants, motivated by racial animus, committed violent assaults resulting in real, and in one case near-fatal, injuries. But the Election Night assaults, coming on the day when we participate most directly in our democracy, were also an attack on the democratic process and an affront to everyone. The FBI is committed to civil rights enforcement and policing hate crimes.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E NYPD Commissioner Kelly stated, \\\\u0022I want to commend the NYPD detectives and their federal partners who pursued this case, particularly NYPD Inspector Michael J. Osgood, who as Commanding Officer of the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force had the foresight to assign a special team on Election Night until 4 a.m. the next morning. These officers were able to respond quickly to the bias attacks and begin an immediate investigation. They located an eyewitness to one of the attacks, and their subsequent distribution of flyers in the Rosebank area of Staten Island over three days led to the first major break in the case. History was made on Election Day. We wanted to make sure those who tried to retaliate did not escape justice.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The government\\\\u2019s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Pamela K. Chen and Margo K. Brodie and Special Litigation Counsel Kristy Parker.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:35:55-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776955\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T14:39:30-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231357170\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-011\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging three Staten Island, N.Y., men with conspiring to assault African-Americans in retaliation for President-Elect Barack Obama\\\\u0092s election victory.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Three Staten Island, NY Men Indicted\\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\non Federal Hate Crime Conspiracy Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/three-staten-island-ny-men-indicted-federal-hate-crime-conspiracy-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2d49d66e-ac94-4511-be1b-10351b50bff1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014Five defendants associated with the construction of the Liberty Village housing development in Lynchburg, Va., will pay a $300,000 penalty and fund more than $1 million in stream and wetlands restoration work for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and permit restrictions during construction, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe settlement with Savoy Senior Housing Corporation, Savoy Liberty Village LLC, SDB Construction, Inc., Best G.C., Inc., and Acres of Virginia, Inc., was part of a consent decree lodged today in the Western District of Virginia by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the EPA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree would resolve allegations that the defendants discharged and\\\\/or controlled and directed the discharge of pollutants including dredged and\\\\/or fill material, sediment, and other pollutants carried by stormwater into waters of the United States during the construction of a housing development without required permits, and then in violation of the stormwater permit after one was obtained.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, the defendants allegedly buried existing streams on the site and filled wetlands that formed the headwaters of one of the filled streams. Silt and sediment from the construction activities were also discharged into streams on and off the site and flowed downstream to Pine Lake and beyond.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe current owner of the property, Liberty Ridge, LLC, which is not a defendant, has agreed to implement approximately $250,000 in on-site restoration work, which will be funded by the defendants. The defendants will also pay approximately $825,000 to purchase credits to fund stream and wetland restoration projects in the region.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe alleged Clean Water Act violations at the Liberty Village site, located at 5700 Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg, Va., occurred from July 2001 through January 2003 when the defendants cleared and graded the site, installed roads and utilities, and completed or partially built several housing units. In the process, the defendants allegedly destroyed approximately 3,765 feet of stream, and wetlands at the headwaters of tributaries to the Roanoke and James Rivers. Silt and sediment were discharged into streams on and off the site and flowed downstream to Pine Lake and beyond.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese waters are important for flood control, nutrient and sediment retention, filtration, water quality improvement and maintenance of healthy aquatic ecological communities for other water bodies down stream. As the result of defendants\\\\u2019 actions, water now flows downstream faster and at a higher temperature, killing or stressing aquatic animals and plants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe site restoration plan requires restoration of one stream, restoration and enhancement of four ponds, installation of plantings, and eradication of invasive species in certain areas. The consent decree also prohibits future disturbances of the restoration project area. A copy of the decree will be filed with the Circuit Court in Virginia and each future deed, title, or other conveyance instrument must contain a notice stating that the property is subject to this consent decree.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice Web site at: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about wetlands and permitting requirements, go to: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/owow\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/owow\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E . For more information on stormwater and permitting requirements, go to \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/cfpub.epa.gov\\\\/npdes\\\\/home.cfm?program_id=6\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/cfpub.epa.gov\\\\/npdes\\\\/home.cfm?program_id=6\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T17:09:16-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231366156\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-013\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFive defendants associated with the construction of the Liberty Village housing development in Lynchburg, Va., will pay a $300,000 penalty and fund more than $1 million in stream and wetlands restoration work for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and permit restrictions during construction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Settlement Reached in Virginia Stream and Stormwater Case\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/settlement-reached-virginia-stream-and-stormwater-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7a1433d3-2c1f-4219-8cfa-09da2396ec3a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members alleging that the defendants intimidated voters and those aiding them during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Philadelphia, alleges that, during the election, Minister King Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson were deployed at the entrance to a Philadelphia polling location wearing the uniform of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and that Samir Shabazz repeatedly brandished a police-style baton weapon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Intimidation outside of a polling place is contrary to the democratic process,\\\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker. \\\\u0022The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to protect the fundamental right to vote and the Department takes allegations of voter intimidation seriously.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to the complaint, party Chairman Malik Zulu Shabazz confirmed that the placement of Samir Shabazz and Jackson in Philadelphia was part of a nationwide effort to deploy New Black Panther Party members at polling locations on Election Day. The complaint alleges a violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits intimidation, coercion or threats against \\\\u0022any person for voting or attempting to vote.\\\\u0022 The Department seeks an injunction preventing any future deployment of, or display of weapons by, New Black Panther Party members at the entrance to polling locations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, which claims active chapters nationwide, is distinct from the Black Panther Party founded by Bobby Seale in the 1960s.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Civil Rights Division enforces the Voting Rights Act of 1965. To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931. More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s web site at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/voting\\\\/index.htm\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/voting\\\\/index.htm\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:25:43-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776343\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-07T18:10:08-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231369808\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231329600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-014\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department today filed a lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and three of its members alleging that the defendants intimidated voters and those aiding them during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Seeks Injunction \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nAgainst New Black Panther Party\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-seeks-injunction-against-new-black-panther-party\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"959f1c45-4b92-4c47-9d1b-e74b8d5ec498\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The owner and operator of two Miami medical clinics has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Orlando Pascual Jr., 43, pleaded guilty on Jan. 7, 2009, to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud before U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro. In his plea, Pascual admitted that he co-owned two Miami clinics named Medcore Group LLC (Medcore) and M\\\\u0026amp;P Group of South Florida Inc. (M\\\\u0026amp;P) that purported to specialize in the treatment of HIV-positive patients. Pascual admitted that beginning in August 2004 and continuing through November 2006 he conspired with others to submit approximately $5.3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Pascual also pleaded guilty to two separate schemes to launder the proceeds of the health care fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E During the plea, Pascual admitted that Medcore and M\\\\u0026amp;P were operated for the purpose of defrauding Medicare, that the treatments for infused or injected drugs were not medically necessary, and that he and others paid cash kickbacks to the patients for every visit to the clinic. To obtain all the cash necessary to pay the patients, Pascual stated that he and others would write checks that appeared legitimate to people who would cash the checks and then return the cash to them for a fee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Pascual acknowledged that most patients were HIV-positive or were given false diagnoses of cancer. He stated during the plea that he and others used physicians, a physician\\\\u2019s assistant and phlebotomists to help facilitate the scheme. In addition, Pascual acknowledged that clinic employees intentionally manipulated patients\\\\u2019 blood samples so that they would appear to need treatment, when in fact they did not. Pascual stated that such tampering was done to make the medical files appear legitimate.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Pascual is currently incarcerated for Medicare fraud involving the operation of a durable medical equipment (DME) company in Miami from 2001 to 2003. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for April 3, 2009.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Seven co-defendants in the case are scheduled for trial beginning Feb. 9, 2009, in the Southern District of Florida. An indictment is merely a charge, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Kirk Ogrosky and Assistant Chief John S. \\\\u0022Jay\\\\u0022 Darden of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General and FBI. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), supervised by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney Acosta of the Southern District of Florida. Since the inception of MFSF operations, federal prosecutors have indicted 106 cases with 189 defendants in both Los Angeles and Miami. Collectively, these defendants fraudulently billed the Medicare program for more than half a billion dollars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:20:32-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776032\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T09:55:58-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231426558\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-015\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The owner and operator of two Miami medical clinics has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $5.3 million HIV infusion fraud scheme.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Medical Clinic Owner Pleads Guilty to Role in $5.3 Million \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nMedicare Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/medical-clinic-owner-pleads-guilty-role-53-million-medicare-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a97ea75f-681d-4b17-98f3-626db6cf6f15\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 A former executive of an Orange County, Calif.-based valve company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to numerous foreign government officials, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O\\\\u2019Brien of the Central District of California and Joseph Persichini Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Mario Covino, 44, an Italian citizen and resident of Irvine, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James V. Selna in Santa Ana, Calif., to a one-count information charging him with conspiring to make corrupt payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of securing business for the Orange County valve company from state-owned enterprises in several countries, including Brazil, China, India, Korea, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to court documents, the valve company designed and manufactured service control valves for use in the nuclear, oil and gas, and power generation industries worldwide. Covino was the director of worldwide factory sales at the valve company from March 2003 through August 2007. In this position, Covino was responsible for overseeing new construction projects and the replacement of existing valves made by other companies and installed at customer plants in more than 30 countries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In connection with his guilty plea, Covino admitted that from March 2003 through August 2007, he caused employees and agents of the valve company to make corrupt payments totaling approximately $1 million to foreign officials employed at state-owned enterprises in order to assist in obtaining and retaining business for the valve company. Covino also admitted that the valve company earned approximately $5 million in profits from the contracts it obtained as a result of these corrupt payments. According to the court documents, the corrupt payments were made to foreign officials at state-owned entities including, but not limited to, Petrobras (Brazil), Dingzhou Power (China), Datang Power (China), China Petroleum, China Resources Power, China National Offshore Oil Company, PetroChina, Maharashtra State Electricity Board (India), KHNP (Korea), Petronas (Malaysia), Dolphin Energy (UAE) and Abu Dhabi Company for Oil Operations (UAE).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Covino also admitted to providing false and misleading responses to internal auditors during a 2004 internal audit of the company\\\\u2019s commission payments, and to deleting emails and instructing others to delete emails that referred to corrupt payments, for the purpose of obstructing the internal audit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E As part of his plea agreement, Covino has agreed to cooperate with the Department in its ongoing investigation. At sentencing, scheduled for July 20, 2009, Covino faces a maximum of five years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorney Andrew Gentin of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McCormick of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California. The case was investigated by the FBI\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:24:22-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776262\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T13:18:29-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231438709\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-016\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"A former executive of an Orange County, Calif.-based valve company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to numerous foreign government officials.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Executive at California Valve Company\\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nPleads Guilty to Bribing Foreign Government Officials\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-executive-california-valve-company-pleads-guilty-bribing-foreign-government-officials\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e414d497-999c-464b-bdf0-21289890f54a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON\\\\u2014The Explorer Pipeline Company has agreed to pay a $3.3 million civil penalty in order to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from a July 14, 2007, spill of over 6,500 barrels (approximately 275,000 gallons) of jet fuel from its interstate pipeline at a location near Huntsville, Texas, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States\\\\u2019 complaint, which was filed on Oct. 2, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, alleges that Explorer discharged oil into navigable waters of the United States in violation of the Clean Water Act. On July 14, 2007, Explorer\\\\u2019s 28-inch interstate refined petroleum products pipeline ruptured near Huntsville and jet fuel spilled onto the surrounding area and into nearby Turkey Creek. Turkey Creek flows to the Trinity River at the upper reaches of Lake Livingston.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn earlier responses to the spill, Explorer replaced the section of pipe that ruptured, completed cleanup of the impacted waters and adjoining shorelines, is cooperating in a joint federal and state natural resource damage assessment, and commenced additional assessment and followup work under a Corrective Action Order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Oil spills into our nation\\\\u2019s waters endanger public health and the environment and warrant concerted enforcement efforts,\\\\u0022 said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s settlement achieves an appropriate result and furthers our enforcement mission.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022This settlement is the result of coordination and cooperation between a number of federal and state entities. EPA is committed to working with its state and federal partners to ensure a strong water protection program,\\\\u0022 said Richard E. Greene, EPA Regional Administrator.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. The penalty paid for this spill will be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution Fund Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal response activities and to compensate for damages when there is a discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances to waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe proposed consent decree, lodged in the Southern District of Texas, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice website at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T14:38:06-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231443486\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-017\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Explorer Pipeline Company has agreed to pay a $3.3 million civil penalty in order to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from a July 14, 2007, spill of over 6,500 barrels (approximately 275,000 gallons) of jet fuel from its interstate pipeline at a location near Huntsville, Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Oklahoma Pipeline Company to Pay Penalty for Jet Fuel Spill\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/oklahoma-pipeline-company-pay-penalty-jet-fuel-spill\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"235bb6e1-af73-46db-bc68-eccb2fa9e32a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2014 A retired major in the U.S. Army pleaded guilty today to charges of bribery and making a false statement arising out of his activities as both a contracting specialist and a contracting officer at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from 2005 through 2007, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting Assistant Attorney General Deborah A. Garza of the Antitrust Division announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChristopher H. Murray, 41, a resident of Cataula, Ga., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land in U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ga., to a five-count information charging him with four counts of bribery and one count of making a false statement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the information, in 2005 and 2006, Murray served as a contracting specialist in the small purchases branch of the contracting office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where he was responsible for soliciting bids for military contracts, evaluating the sufficiency of those bids, and then recommending the award of contracts to particular contractors. In this capacity, Murray admitted he received approximately $225,000 in bribes from DOD contractors in exchange for recommending the award of contracts for various goods and services.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the information, Murray admitted that when he returned to Kuwait in fall 2006 as a contracting officer, he received an additional $20,000 in bribes from a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor in exchange for the award of a construction contract. When confronted with evidence of his criminal conduct, Murray admitted he made false statements to federal agents investigating this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMurray faces up to 15 years in prison on each bribery count, as well as a criminal fine of $250,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value for each count. Murray also faces up to five years in prison on the false statement charge as well as a fine of $250,000. The maximum fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Murray abused his position of trust by awarding contracts to those willing to pay him bribes,\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich. \\\\u0022There are no more important purchases made by the federal government than those of goods and services used by our men and women in uniform.\\\\u0026nbsp; Procurement officers who sacrifice their positions of trust for the sake of personal enrichment can expect to be prosecuted.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The Antitrust Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit bribery and other offenses, which deprive the U.S. military and, ultimately, U.S. taxpayers, of a competitive market,\\\\u0022 said Deborah A. Garza, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department\\\\u0027s Antitrust Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022SIGIR vigorously continues to pursue investigations into allegations of fraud in Iraq,\\\\u0022 said Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. \\\\u0022Maj. Murray grossly abused his position of trust, committing multiple acts of fraud for which he will now pay a just price. This successful investigation was part of ongoing cooperative efforts being carried out by SIGIR and our law enforcement partners.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrig. Gen. Rodney Johnson of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said this guilty plea is just another example of how seriously his criminal investigators and the U.S. Army take these criminal acts of greed and how determined he and his special agents are to bring these people to justice. \\\\u0022People who do business with the U.S. military should know by now that if they violate the public\\\\u2019s trust and commit criminal acts, they will be caught by a team of highly-trained professionals looking for this type of criminality. We will not stand for it,\\\\u0022 said Johnson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The American public expects military officers to behave in an aboveboard manner,\\\\u0022 said James R. Ives, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service\\\\u2019s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. \\\\u0022The vast majority of officers are disciplined, law abiding professionals who serve with honor. Duty, accountability, responsibility and integrity inspire their attitudes and actions. Officers who fail to live up to these standards erode public support for the military and undermine confidence in government. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service remains committed to working with the Department of Justice to ensure officials who betray the public trust are held firmly accountable.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EToday\\\\u2019s charges represent the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to protecting U.S. taxpayers from procurement fraud through its creation of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force. The National Procurement Fraud Initiative, announced in October 2006, is designed to promote the early detection, prosecution, and prevention of procurement fraud associated with the increase in contracting activity for national security and other government programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Richard B. Evans of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Public Integrity Section, which is headed by Chief William M. Welch II, and Trial Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher, Emily W. Allen and Finnuala Kelleher of the Antitrust Division\\\\u2019s National Criminal Enforcement Section, which is headed by Chief Lisa Phelan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being investigated by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the FBI; and the Internal Revenue Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPlea Agreement\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T08:17:29-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738847849\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T15:53:12-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231447992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-018\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA retired major in the U.S. Army pleaded guilty today to charges of bribery and making a false statement arising out of his activities as both a contracting specialist and a contracting officer at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from 2005 through 2007.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Retired Army Major Pleads Guilty in Bribery SchemeInvolving Department of Defense Contracts in Kuwait\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/retired-army-major-pleads-guilty-bribery-schemeinvolving-department-defense-contracts-kuwait\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdd6189a-4697-4061-a61f-95bdc84ef974\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., returned a superseding indictment against Micaela Renee Dutson and her husband, Tony Dutson, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Dutsons were originally indicted May 8, 2008, on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States of more than $8 million and failed to file income taxes. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 5, 2008.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe superseding indictment adds charges that the Dutsons attempted to obstruct the IRS in its attempt to enforce the tax laws by filing lawsuits, baseless liens and multiple Forms 1099-OID against IRS employees. The indictment alleges that the baseless liens claimed a debt owed by the IRS employees to the defendants totalling $1,003,680,000,000. According to the superseding indictment, the Forms 1099-OID falsely claimed payment of millions of dollars to IRS employees who were investigating the defendants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe superseding indictment also includes charges that the Dutsons presented five fictitious financial obligations totalling approximately $9,903,870 for use by their clients in purported payment of IRS debts. It further includes a charge that the Dutsons willfully aided and assisted the filing of a false 2002 federal tax return by clients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022This indictment shows that the government will not tolerate taxpayers\\\\u2019 use of bogus financial instruments to pay tax debts and IRS forms as a means to harass IRS employees,\\\\u0022 said Tax Division Assistant Attorney General Nathan J. Hochman. \\\\u0022Under the National Tax Defier Initiative launched in April 2008, the Tax Division has committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax defiers and all others who use baseless arguments and fictitious documents to evade their tax liabilities.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Obstruction is a crime that does not pay in Oregon - we will aggressively investigate and prosecute attempts by those who obstruct revenue agents and officers from doing their jobs,\\\\u0022 said U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The IRS works quickly to identify and stop these nuisance schemes aimed at harassing honest taxpayers and the government,\\\\u0022 said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Eileen Mayer. \\\\u0022We take seriously these types of actions that attempt to impede our ability to administer efficient tax administration. Today\\\\u0027s indictment signals our determination to hold accountable those who engage in this type of frivolous activity.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EConspiracy carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Failure to file tax returns carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison for each offense. Obstructing the internal revenue laws carries a maximum penalty of up to three years for each offense. Using fictitious financial instruments carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years for each count. Aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns carries a maximum penalty of up to three years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA criminal indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt. Each of these defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges stem from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T14:43:46-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738784626\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-08T17:37:29-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231454249\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231416000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-019\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., returned a superseding indictment against Micaela Renee Dutson and her husband, Tony Dutson. The Dutsons were originally indicted May 8, 2008, on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States of more than $8 million and failed to file income taxes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Former Oregon Residents Now Residing in Arizona Indicted for Obstructing IRS Investigation and Other Tax Crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/two-former-oregon-residents-now-residing-arizona-indicted-obstructing-irs-investigation-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62ddff79-20b0-4d6f-8229-d9124ec90f78\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 The Department of Justice has filed a forfeiture action against accounts worth nearly $3 million that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members in connection with various public work projects, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The forfeiture action was filed Jan. 8, 2009, in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia against funds located in Singapore held by multiple account holders. The forfeiture complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Arafat \\\\u0022Koko\\\\u0022 Rahman, the son of the former prime minister of Bangladesh, in connection with public works projects awarded by the government of Bangladesh to Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company.\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the forfeiture complaint, the majority of funds in Koko\\\\u2019s account are traceable to bribes allegedly received in connection with the China Harbor project, which was a project to build a new mooring containment terminal at the port in Chittagong, Bangladesh.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022This action shows the lengths to which U.S. law enforcement will go to recover the proceeds of foreign corruption, including acts of bribery and money laundering,\\\\u0022 said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich. \\\\u0022Not only will the Department, for example, prosecute companies and executives who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we will also use our forfeiture laws to recapture the illicit facilitating payments often used in such schemes.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Siemens AG), a German corporation, and three of its subsidiaries pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2008, to violations of and charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Specifically, Siemens Bangladesh admitted that from May 2001 to August 2006, it caused corrupt payments of at least $5,319,839 to be made through purported business consultants to various Bangladeshi officials in exchange for favorable treatment during the bidding process on a mobile telephone project.\\\\u0026nbsp; At least one payment to each of these purported consultants was paid from a U.S. bank account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to the forfeiture complaint, the bribe payments from Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company were made in U.S. dollars, and the illicit funds flowed through financial institutions in the United States before they were deposited in accounts in Singapore, thereby subjecting them to U.S. jurisdiction. Money laundering laws in the United States cover financial transactions that flow through the United States involving proceeds of foreign offenses, including foreign bribery and extortion.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In August 2006, the President announced a National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts Against Kleptocracy to fight high-level corruption around the world. This strategy combines the policy and law enforcement tools of several federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury, State and Homeland Security.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Linda Samuel and Trial Attorney Frederick Reynolds of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs. The case was investigated by the FBI\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office in cooperation with Bangladeshi law enforcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:19:52-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738775992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-09T14:12:40-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231528360\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231502400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-020\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department has filed a forfeiture action against accounts worth nearly $3 million that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members in connection with various public work projects.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Department of Justice Seeks to Recover Approximately $3 Million \\\\u003Cbr \\\\/\\\\u003E\\\\r\\\\nin Illegal Proceeds from Foreign Bribe Payments\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/department-justice-seeks-recover-approximately-3-million-illegal-proceeds-foreign-bribe\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99c74405-a551-4b82-a2f5-4e68acc17d7a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Roy M. Belfast Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga today to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta for the Southern District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Belfast, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Chuckie Taylor, Charles Taylor Jr., Charles Taylor II and Charles McArther Emmanuel, was convicted on October 30, 2008, by a federal jury after a six-week trial of five counts of torture, one count of conspiracy to torture, one count of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of conspiracy to use a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The lengthy prison term handed down today justly reflects the horror and torture that Taylor Jr. visited upon his victims. This case was made in no small part by the courage of individual victims who had the mettle to come forward and speak the truth about what had been done to them,\\\\u0022 Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division said. \\\\u0022Our message to human rights violators, no matter where they are, remains the same: We will use the full reach of U.S. law, and every lawful resource at the disposal of our investigators and prosecutors, to hold you fully accountable for your crimes.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to trial testimony, Belfast, who was born in the United States and is the son of the former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, commanded a paramilitary organization known as the Anti-Terrorist Unit, which was directed to provide protection for the Liberian president and additional dignitaries of the Liberian government. Between 1999 and 2003, in his role as commander of that unit, Belfast and his associates committed numerous and varied forms of torture, including burning victims with molten plastic, lit cigarettes, scalding water, candle wax and an iron; severely beating victims with firearms; cutting and stabbing victims; and shocking victims with an electric device.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022There is justice today for the many victims of Chuckie Taylor\\\\u0022, said John P. Torres, Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. \\\\u0022This sentence ensures that he pays for his barbaric acts. I want to thank the more than one hundred ICE agents, attorneys, victim advocates and other federal partners whose meticulous investigative work and coordination led to this landmark conviction.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022This sentence sends a resounding message that torture will not be tolerated here at home or by U.S. nationals abroad,\\\\u0022 said Executive Assistant Director Arthur M. Cummings, II, of the FBI National Security Division. \\\\u0022The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate such acts wherever they occur.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E On March 30, 2006, Belfast attempted to enter the United States with a passport obtained through false statements submitted on his passport application, and was arrested. Belfast pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2006, to passport fraud and was sentenced on Dec. 7, 2007, to 11 months in prison on that charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Belfast\\\\u2019s prosecution on the torture charges was the first ever under a statute that criminalizes torture and provides U.S. courts jurisdiction to hear cases involving acts of torture committed outside the United States if the offender is a U.S. national or is present in the United States, regardless of nationality.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The case was jointly investigated by ICE and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Rochlin and Caroline Heck Miller of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Chris Graveline of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Domestic Security Section. National Security Division Trial Attorney Brenda Sue Thornton and Criminal Division Attorneys John Cox, John-Alex Romano, Michael Surgalla, and Pragna Soni also provided assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:47:08-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777628\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-09T15:00:44-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231531244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231502400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-021\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Roy M. Belfast Jr. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga today to 97 years in prison for crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Roy Belfast Jr., A\\\\/K\\\\/A Chuckie Taylor, Sentenced on Torture Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/roy-belfast-jr-aka-chuckie-taylor-sentenced-torture-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bb49095b-e376\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nindustry. Principal uses include ore processing, fertilizer manufacturing, oil refining, wastewater processing and chemical synthesis.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEPA is focusing on improving compliance among industries that have the potential to cause significant amounts of air pollution, including the cement manufacturing, glass manufacturing and acid production industries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe states of Louisiana, Ohio and Oklahoma, and the Northern Arapaho Tribe, joined the federal government in the agreement. Of the total penalty, $460,000 will be paid to the federal government and $240,000 will be paid to the three states. In Ohio, part of the money will be used to fund a clean diesel school bus project and a tree planting project.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe consent decree, lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information on the settlement: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/enrd\\\\/Consent_Decrees.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-06T13:31:07-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738866667\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2356156f-999c-4471-9e87-d68da06dc79f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T12:19:31-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231780771\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-025\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThree manufacturers of sulfuric acid have agreed to spend at least $12 million on air pollution controls that are expected to eliminate more than 3,000 tons of harmful emissions annually from six production plants in Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Chemtrade Logistics, Chemtrade Refinery Services and Marsulex also will pay a civil penalty of $700,000 under the Clean Air Act settlement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sulfuric Acid Manufacturers Agree to Reduce Air Pollution at Facilities\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/sulfuric-acid-manufacturers-agree-reduce-air-pollution-facilities\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9c7036e9-7349-41a6-b328-2c2aa5f58ca3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Gary, Ind., alleging job discrimination against six individuals on the basis of their race, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Department\\\\u2019s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, alleges that the six individuals applied for emergency medical technician (EMT) positions with the city and were subsequently placed on a hiring list that stated that offers of employment would be based on the rank order of the individuals listed. The complaint further alleges that the city failed to offer EMT positions to any of the six individuals, all of whom are white, while offering EMT positions to several other individuals, all of whom are African-American, and that each of these six complainants ranked higher than the lowest-ranked applicant to receive a job offer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Federal law guarantees equal access to employment opportunities without regard to race,\\\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u0022The Department is committed to enforcing all the federal civil rights laws, including Title VII, under its jurisdiction.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Title VII prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion, and prohibits retaliation against an employee who opposes an unlawful employment practice, or because the employee has made a charge or participated in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under the act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The continued enforcement of Title VII has been a priority of the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. More information is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/emp\\\\/index.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E http:\\\\/\\\\/www.usdoj.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/emp\\\\/index.html\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:34:38-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776878\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T15:57:35-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231793855\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-026\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department announced today the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Gary, Ind., alleging job discrimination against six individuals on the basis of their race, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended).\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Race Discrimination Against Job Applicants by City of Gary, Ind.\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-files-lawsuit-alleging-race-discrimination-against-job-applicants-city\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d5af91e3-509c-43c9-b945-40cd7eb42007\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit on behalf of James O. Alston, a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, against Hawthorne Paint Co. Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of the employee\\\\u2019s past, current or future military obligations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Department\\\\u2019s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., alleges that the company violated USERRA by terminating Mr. Alston from his position as a supervisor based on his military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2004 to June 2006, and by discharging him without cause, a week from his date of reinstatement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022No one should lose their civilian job for serving our country as a member of the military,\\\\u0022 said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. \\\\u0022Our servicemen and women sacrifice for our nation, and particularly in this time of conflict, the Justice Department is committed to fully protecting the employment rights of our men and women in uniform.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Department of Justice\\\\u2019s lawsuit was filed after the Veterans\\\\u2019 Employment and Training Service of the Department of Labor referred a complaint filed by Mr. Alston under USERRA to the Department of Justice upon completion of its investigation and unsuccessful settlement efforts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division places a high priority on the enforcement of service members\\\\u2019 rights under USERRA. Last year, the Division filed 12 USERRA suits, the largest number since receiving enforcement authority in September 2004.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Additional information about USERRA is available at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_self\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E www.servicemembers.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and on the Department of Labor Web site at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.dol.gov\\\\/vets\\\\/programs\\\\/userra\\\\/main.htm\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cspan\\\\u003E www.dol.gov\\\\/vets\\\\/programs\\\\/userra\\\\/main.htm\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/span\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:33:26-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776806\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T16:34:34-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231796074\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-027\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"The Department today filed a lawsuit on behalf of James O. Alston, a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, against Hawthorne Paint Co. Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of the employee\\\\u0092s past, current or future military obligations.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Files Suit Against Paint Company to Defend Employment Rights of N.J. Army National Guardsman\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-files-suit-against-paint-company-defend-employment-rights-nj-army-national\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d5b17cd7-95fd-4a78-9f03-51d01ef815de\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON- Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Department of Justice announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E In addition to the $5 million penalty, Rite Aid and all of its subsidiaries agreed to a compliance plan with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure compliance with all requirements of the CSA and applicable DEA regulations and to prevent diversion of controlled substances. The compliance plan also requires Rite Aid to implement a pseudoephedrine and ephedrine tracking system in each of its 4,915 stores that is designed to prevent the abuse of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products, which are used to make methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to information contained in the agreement, the DEA conducted an investigation of 53 separate Rite Aid locations starting in 2004. The investigation revealed a pattern of violations of the CSA, including:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt pharmacies in Kentucky and New York, Rite Aid knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose pursuant to a valid physician-patient relationship;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt five pharmacies in Maryland, four pharmacies in New York and 13 pharmacies in California, Rite Aid failed to notify the DEA in a timely manner of significant thefts and losses of controlled substances, thus permitting the diversion of controlled substances to continue and undermining DEA\\\\u2019s ability to investigate such thefts and\\\\/or losses;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt pharmacies in California, Pennsylvania and Maryland, Rite Aid either failed to maintain or failed to furnish to the DEA upon request records that are required to be kept under the CSA for a period of two years; \\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cli\\\\u003EAt all 53 pharmacies in all eight states, Rite Aid failed to properly execute DEA forms used to ensure that the amount of Schedule II drugs ordered by Rite Aid were actually received.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Additionally, the DEA conducted accountability audits of controlled substances at 25 of the 53 stores investigated to determine whether Rite Aid could properly account for Schedule II and III controlled substances purchased and dispensed. The results of the accountability audits revealed significant shortages or surpluses of the most highly abused drugs, including oxycodone and hydrocodone products, reflecting a pattern of non-compliance with the requirements of the CSA and federal regulations that lead to the diversion of controlled substances in and around the communities of the Rite Aid pharmacies investigated.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Congress regulates prescription medications because of their powerful and potentially harmful effects,\\\\u0022 said Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip. \\\\u0022Today\\\\u0027s settlement will help to curb illegal access to these dangerous drugs that can often be abused.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022This settlement demonstrates the important responsibilities all pharmacies have to prevent dangerous drugs from being diverted from their intended use,\\\\u0022 said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. \\\\u0022The civil penalties paid today are just one example of DEA\\\\u0027s determination to combat the troubling prescription drug abuse problem in this country by pursuing pharmacies that fail to comply with the law. Our nation\\\\u0027s pharmacies must play a major role in the fight against drug abuse, so that together we can protect public health and keep our communities safe.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E As part of the compliance plan agreed to as part of the settlement, Rite Aid has agreed to audit each pharmacy to ensure that all of its controlled substances are maintained securely and that each pharmacy is compliant with the requirements of the CSA. Additionally, Rite Aid will physically count all Schedule II controlled substances quarterly and physically count hydrocodone and alprazolam products yearly. Currently, the CSA only requires registrants like Rite Aid to physically count Schedule II controlled substances biennially and estimate Schedule III products biennially.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Rite Aid has also agreed to design and implement an electronic system to document and link all sales transactions involving non-prescription products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine at each of the 4,915 Rite Aid locations in the country. The new system will be designed to prevent individuals from obtaining illegal amounts of these products by visiting different pharmacy locations. In the event an individual attempts to make a purchase that would exceed either the daily or 30-day limit for purchase of non-prescription products containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, the new system will alert the employee to halt the transaction and a record of the attempted purchase will be made and reported to the DEA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The CSA is the primary federal law regulating the flow of controlled substances into the marketplace for medical purposes.\\\\u0026nbsp; Strict compliance with the CSA is required in order to prevent the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession and improper use of controlled substances. The Act authorizes the imposition of a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each record keeping or reporting violation and a penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation involving legally deficient prescriptions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E The settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by Rite Aid nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Rite Aid is headquartered in Camp Hill, Pa., and operates 4,915 stores in 31 states. Violations resolved by the settlement occurred in eight states and 11 judicial districts, including the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York; District of Maryland; Eastern District of Kentucky; Eastern and Central Districts of California; Eastern District of Virginia; District of New Jersey; and the Eastern District of Michigan. The settlement was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from each of the 11 judicial districts in which violations occurred. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. The investigation in this matter was conducted by the DEA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:48:16-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777696\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9662639e-b9a0-44da-8b87-c3f1562b616b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Public Affairs\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-12T17:36:54-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231799814\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231761600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-028\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Rite Aid Corporation and Subsidiaries Agree to Pay $5 Million in Civil Penalties to Resolve Violations in Eight States of the Controlled Substances Act\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/rite-aid-corporation-and-subsidiaries-agree-pay-5-million-civil-penalties-resolve-violations\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"13e6406f-e16c-457f-b277-6cd098ddb66f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Today\\\\u2019s report describes troubling conduct by a former supervisor in the Civil Rights Division prior to his departure from the Division nearly three years ago. The mission of the Justice Department is the evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, and that mission has to start with the evenhanded application of the laws within our own Department. As today\\\\u2019s report makes clear, Mr. Schlozman deviated from that strict standard.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The Department agrees with the recommendations outlined in the report and has already taken steps to implement them. In addition, the Civil Rights Division has taken additional steps to update its own hiring policies and to increase the role of career employees in its hiring process. As a result of these reforms, and the procedures already in place for evaluating the work and conduct of lawyers throughout the Department, we are confident that the institutional problems identified in today\\\\u2019s report no longer exist and will not recur.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:27:32-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738776452\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9662639e-b9a0-44da-8b87-c3f1562b616b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Public Affairs\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-13T10:07:42-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231859262\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231848000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-029\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u0022Today\\\\u0092s report describes troubling conduct by a former supervisor in the Civil Rights Division prior to his departure from the Division nearly three years ago. The mission of the Justice Department is the evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, and that mission has to start with the evenhanded application of the laws within our own Department. As today\\\\u0092s report makes clear, Mr. Schlozman deviated from that strict standard.\\\\u0022\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Statement by Peter A. Carr, Acting Director of Public Affairs, Regarding Report on Civil Rights Division Hiring\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/statement-peter-carr-acting-director-public-affairs-regarding-report-civil-rights-division\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"eb0eb20b-e09f-4395-b85c-b7fa97d0f1a5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E WASHINGTON - Peter Zavell, a medical doctor in Florence, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return for the year 2000, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service(IRS) announced today. Zavell was scheduled to begin trial in Florence before Judge R. Bryan Harwell today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Zavell was indicted in August 2007 for conspiracy to impede the IRS and for filing false returns for years 2000 and 2001. According to the indictment, Zavell used the \\\\u0022Look Back\\\\u0022 and \\\\u0022Look Forward\\\\u0022 programs, marketed by Anderson Ark and Associates (AAA) to create fictitious entities and business transactions intended to eliminate his tax obligations. The tax loss relative to the scheme was $244,784.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E According to the indictment, Zavell used the AAA Look Back program to set up a sham partnership for the purpose of reporting false expenses and eliminating his individual tax liabilities. The indictment alleges that, through the AAA Look Forward program, Dr. Zavell created a sham partnership with which his medical practiced allegedly engaged in fictitious business contracts. The purpose and result of this fictitious business relationship was to generate false business expenses for his medical practice and substantially reduce the business tax obligations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022Dr. Zavell joins more than a dozen other AAA customers who now wear the lifelong title \\\\u2018convicted felon\\\\u2019 for their participation in illegal tax fraud scams,\\\\u0022 said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Tax Division. \\\\u0022This is just one more example of the government\\\\u2019s commitment to investigate and prosecute those who fail to comply with their federal tax obligations.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E \\\\u0022The IRS aggressively investigates those who use abusive financial arrangements to hide the true ownership of assets and income; it is a matter of maintaining public confidence in the fairness of the tax laws,\\\\u0022 said Eileen Mayer, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. \\\\u0022If individuals choose to participate in abusive tax schemes, they will be held accountable and criminally prosecuted.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss charges against Zavell\\\\u2019s wife, Susan Zavell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Judge Harwell did not set a sentencing date. Zavell faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E Assistant Attorney General Hochman commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Kevin C. Lombardi and Gregory R. Bockin, who prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222025-02-05T12:40:37-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1738777237\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66a0b5f0-dab8-4d8e-9d59-fbaa4a440787\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222009-01-13T16:33:54-05:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1231882434\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1231848000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"09-030\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"Peter Zavell, a medical doctor in Florence, S.C., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return for the year 2000. Zavell was scheduled to begin trial in Florence before Judge R. Bryan Harwell today.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"South Carolina Doctor Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/south-carolina-doctor-pleads-guilty-filing-false-tax-return\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"16abbe22-b232-4311-9f27-1adfde5ec725\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2014 KIK (Virginia) LLC pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Virginia to a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act and agreed to pay a $75,000 criminal fine and $25,000 in community service payments for negligent discharges of bleach to the sanitary sewer system in Salem, Va.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKIK (Virginia) operated a facility in Salem that manufactured bleach and other household products. On Sept. 4, 2003, local authorities discovered elevated concentrations of bleach in the sanitary sewer lines servicing the KIK (Virginia) facility. An investigation revealed that at that time and for a number of years before, under previous owners, employees at the plant washed bleach that had been spilled in the production and bottling process and off-specification bleach into the plant\\\\u2019s floor drains. The floor drains channeled the bleach into the plant\\\\u2019s drainage system, which lead to Salem\\\\u2019s sanitary sewer system, operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority. The plant did not have a permit to discharge bleach to the sewer system and did not monitor its discharges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Clean Water Act prohibits discharges into a sewer system of any pollutants that the discharger knows could cause property damage. Bleach is a corrosive chemical that, in sufficient concentration, may damage metal and other materials used in the sewer system and is considered a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Keeping our sewer systems and public treatment works in good condition is a key part of maintaining and improving the quality of our waterways,\\\\u0022 said Eileen Sobek, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division. \\\\u0022We take seriously our obligation to prosecute those whose conduct risks harm to these important systems.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe $25,000 in community service payments will be divided equally between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Environmental Education Fund for use in projects to improve water quality in the Salem area. In addition to the criminal fine and community service payment, KIK (Virginia) has agreed to serve one year of probation, during which it will continue to develop and implement an environmental management system that it began developing during the investigation. It also will complete an environmental audit conducted by an independent auditor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Dumping bleach into the city\\\\u0027s sewer system risked causing damage to both its sewage treatment equipment and the environment,\\\\u0022 said David Dillion, EPA\\\\u0027s Special Agent in Charge in Philadelphia. \\\\u0022It is appropriate that, in addition to the fine, the company will be required\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0028 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_013CML8PhSamtjJmcQbFRxW4", "elapsed": 0.096790278, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272226\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":0},\\\"executionTime\\\":1.4591929912567139},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpokane, Washington \\\\u2013 First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EA team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:18:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150728\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68248c1d-1d3d-4ed1-90c4-bea03bd5a1ca\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Washington, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:16:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2:26-CR-0115-RLP\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edwa\\\\/pr\\\\/aaron-farinacci-federally-indicted-arson\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8abf429c-6955-4818-b3d9-fdcc3707eaa1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461061\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8ede7131-db62-45b3-8e65-e63dbb96aba9\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States alleges that from September 2015 through December 2020, St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute (St. Michael\\\\u2019s) and Dr. Michaelos caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, St. Michael\\\\u2019s and Dr. Michaelos admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. St. Michael\\\\u2019s had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid St. Michael\\\\u2019s for referrals that St. Michael\\\\u2019s made for TCD tests, even though the parties\\\\u2019 contracts called for payment based on the cost of office space, staff, and utilities, and not per-patient or per-test that St. Michael\\\\u2019s referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of these tests, Eyecuity submitted claims to Medicare that indicated that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Syndrome or Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI), a very rare condition. But St. Michael\\\\u2019s physicians did not have reason to believe that patients had a diagnosis of VBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States contends that the claims for the TCD tests that St. Michael\\\\u2019s and Dr. Michaelos caused Eyecuity to submit to Medicare for payment were false because St. Michael\\\\u2019s received payments from Eyecuity that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Weinograd of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u2019s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1461061\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/media\\\\/1461061\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=390485\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022michaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Emichaelos_fca_settlement_agreement.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:35:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155353\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:33:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155181\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. John Michaelos, an ophthalmologist and owner of St. Michael\\\\u2019s Eye \\\\u0026amp; Laser Institute, have agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"87816596-1bad-44b8-b138-df98755a6895\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"False Claims Act\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/eye-practice-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-350000-resolve-allegations-false-claims\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"116c508a-1cad-440f-a7b2-5bdb81ced9e0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said, \\\\u201cThis violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he\\\\u2019ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws,\\\\u0022 said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. \\\\u0022ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:17:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132651\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:14:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132490\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/criminal-illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-federal-prison-after-threatening-woman-knife\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"328c9c39-4e0c-4765-bd2f-02e0267229ee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461056\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b094cb4-03d0-4856-a186-f788390b9c7a\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS, who is currently detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was\\\\u0026nbsp;presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Southern District of New York\\\\u0026nbsp;will use every available tool to protect children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cDustin Tompkins represents every parent\\\\u2019s greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. \\\\u0026nbsp;As alleged,\\\\u0026nbsp;while\\\\u0026nbsp;on\\\\u0026nbsp;supervision\\\\u0026nbsp;for\\\\u0026nbsp;a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography,\\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins used social media to\\\\u0026nbsp;communicate\\\\u0026nbsp;with minors and\\\\u0026nbsp;persuade\\\\u0026nbsp;them to create and send him sexually explicit images. \\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins is\\\\u0026nbsp;also\\\\u0026nbsp;alleged to have\\\\u0026nbsp;amassed\\\\u0026nbsp;additional child pornography\\\\u0026nbsp;via\\\\u0026nbsp;social media applications. \\\\u0026nbsp;If you have information to report,\\\\u0026nbsp;please immediately contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI\\\\u0026nbsp;(1-800-225-5324) or\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about March 18, 2015, TOMPKINS pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 18, United States Code, Section\\\\u0026nbsp;2252A(a)(2) and (b)(1), and was subsequently sentenced to 77\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about January 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in TOMPKINS\\\\u2019s bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone.\\\\u0026nbsp; A subsequent court-authorized search of that smartphone found images comprising child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on or about January 24, 2026, TOMPKINS had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFinally, the smartphone search found that TOMPKINS, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors.\\\\u0026nbsp; Specifically, on or about October 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and transmit the photograph to him.\\\\u0026nbsp; Then, on or about December 26, 2025, Tompkins directed, and attempted to direct, a 16\\\\u2011year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and transmit the photograph and video to him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere may be other victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1\\\\u2011800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOMPKINS, 38, of Mount Kisco, New York, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is finally charged with one count of committing the offenses charged in Counts One and Two while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to Counts One and Two.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald thanked\\\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3c32050731c80e95c532b465681ffe52\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153188\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:56:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-257\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-charged-sexual-exploitations-children-and-receipt-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b914b4dc-2237-47e8-a1b0-f0f7754d9916\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an \\\\u201cAR\\\\u201d style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America,\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:15:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146922\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:12:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146733\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, of Sedalia, Mo., was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/man-involved-shooting-sentenced-96-months-imprisonment-illegally-possessing-stolen\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"114e328e-22ea-472c-a6f6-fee6c0ba6599\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 A Dothan, Alabama tax preparer was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Thomas Govan for the Middle District of Alabama.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendant was entrusted with helping taxpayers comply with the law, yet she repeatedly chose to manipulate the tax system for her own benefit,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\\\u201cWhat makes this case particularly troubling is that the defendant did not change her ways after being indicted. While on federal pretrial release and under an explicit order not to commit additional crimes, she continued preparing false tax returns. Her decision to disregard both the law and the conditions of her release resulted in additional criminal charges and a significant federal prison sentence.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs a tax preparer, Carlotta Lampley had a responsibility to prepare and submit accurate tax returns for herself and her clients,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. \\\\u201cShe failed to fulfill that responsibility in order to obtain fraudulent refunds. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will investigate unscrupulous tax preparers, and they will be held accountable for their actions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Carlotta Elaine Lampley, 41, operated a tax preparation service in Dothan and began preparing tax returns for clients in 2015. As part of her business practice, Lampley commonly withheld her tax-preparation fees from clients\\\\u2019 tax refunds before transferring the remaining refund proceeds to the clients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn investigation revealed that Lampley prepared and filed false tax returns for herself and various clients during tax years 2020 through 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn her plea agreement, Lampley admitted that, in 2024, she prepared and filed a federal income tax return for herself for the 2023 tax year that falsely reported her income as $52,343. Lampley knew the reported income was false because it failed to include fees she earned from preparing clients\\\\u2019 tax returns and withheld from their refunds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury subsequently indicted Lampley, and she was arrested on September 24, 2025. As a condition of her pretrial release, Lampley was prohibited from committing any new violations of law while awaiting trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDespite being under federal indictment and released on bond, Lampley continued to prepare false tax returns. On January 22, 2026, she prepared a tax return for a client that falsely claimed the client operated a business and had earned a profit from that business, even though the client did not operate such a business and had never told Lampley that the client did. Lampley also falsely reported \\\\u201cother earned income\\\\u201d for the client despite knowing that the client had not received such income.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELampley admitted that she knew the false statements were material and were intended to affect the client\\\\u2019s federal tax liability in a manner that benefited the client at the expense of the Internal Revenue Service and the American taxpayer. The conduct also violated the terms of her pretrial release and resulted in a superseding indictment charging Lampley with additional criminal conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELampley\\\\u2019s 57-month prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the September 10, 2026, sentencing hearing, the court also ordered Lampley to pay restitution in the amount of $314,247. This consists of $62,915 associated with her own tax returns and $251,332 associated with tax returns she aided and assisted other taxpayers in filing. The estimated actual loss amount from Lampley\\\\u2019s false tax-return scheme over the full period of her criminal conduct exceeded $2.1 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:20:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154414\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:18:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154289\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dothan Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdal\\\\/pr\\\\/dothan-tax-preparer-sentenced-nearly-five-years-prison-filing-false-tax-returns\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"28b473a5-3b78-4e40-86f3-1e820344f80e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461011\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77d701bf-f401-47a4-8ec1-c5459b978318\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWe will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors\\\\u2019 money at risk,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cAs alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cVuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThese allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes\\\\u2014they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,\\\\u201d said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cWhile investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions \\\\u201cusing wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund\\\\u2019s returns to investors. VUKOVIC\\\\u2019s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of\\\\u0026nbsp;securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS.\\\\u0026nbsp;Mr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1c1f22f9ad843fe4236b2d44aa85a413\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:36:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130176\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:34:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130047\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-255\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4b912645-2e6f-4fe5-861b-6c0d1d50b996\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\\\u201cInvestor-1\\\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143928\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143792\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-256\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMONROE \\\\u2013 On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERandy Allen Powell,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\\\u201cProtecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\\\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\\\u0026nbsp;at \\\\u0026nbsp;https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/about-project-safe-childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\\\/\\\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONTACT:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ECara Alexander: (337) 262-6704\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5fca62bc-f789-4d4a-9f67-764e0c0610a1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:25:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147513\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\/pr\\\\/downsville-man-previously-convicted-receiving-child-pornography-indicted-again\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c8354d5-cf73-4277-8d5a-359e307bfe12\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA man who escaped custody and failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on September 10, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuane Levering, age 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from custody and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2005 Levering was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp; Based on this conviction, Levering is required to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the plea hearing, evidence showed that on December 23, 2025, Levering began confinement following his conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service received a Notice of Escaped Federal Prisoner for Levering from the Bureau of Prisons stating Levering failed to return to Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center from his reported employment site.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering admitted he willingly left the center and failed to register his new residence with the sex offender registry while he was on the run.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4019.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151212\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/sioux-city-man-who-failed-register-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-federal-court\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35f34b92-2117-42e2-9e1b-ad958e6a13d7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years\\\\u2019 supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELess than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office located Reed\\\\u2019s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EReed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:20:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147217\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:19:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/springfield-man-sentenced-over-20-years-meth-and-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"914778fc-9471-431f-9ea4-e70181684211\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. \\\\u201cWe continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.\\\\u201d \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnalysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents executed a search warrant at Champion\\\\u2019s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion\\\\u2019s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the \\\\u201creaper,\\\\u201d explained how good he is at shooting\\\\/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how \\\\u201chittin a mother***er\\\\u201d would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms \\\\u0026amp; Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie\\\\u0026nbsp;announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson\\\\u2019s Office are representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:13:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154032\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:12:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/gang-task-force-arrests-cincinnati-man-allegedly-tied-multiple-shootings\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a958bae7-b9b5-48b0-bc86-f0941e8923ec\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOLEDO, Ohio \\\\u2013 A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETeunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary\\\\u2019s River that flows to the Maumee River.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E,\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy\\\\u2019s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia\\\\u2014a pollutant\\\\u2014that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cReckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio\\\\u2019s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDavid M. Toepfer\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio. \\\\u201cLet this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA\\\\u2019s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. \\\\u201cClean water is one of Ohio\\\\u2019s and America\\\\u2019s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOhio\\\\u2019s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio\\\\u2019s waterways will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov\\\\/law-enforcement\\\\/bureau-of-criminal-investigation\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal\\\\u0026nbsp;Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/epa.ohio.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E Special Investigations Unit, with support from the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ohiodnr.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Department of Natural\\\\u0026nbsp;Resources\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMatthew D. Simko\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at\\\\u0026nbsp;800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.\\\\u0026nbsp;Potential environmental violations can be reported at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:48:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789156109\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:44:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155870\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndoh\\\\/pr\\\\/dairy-manager-sentenced-role-polluting-waterway-waste-caused-fish-kill\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"adf25be3-03ab-4905-a72e-919c0f197041\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThree months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMoussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. \\\\u201cDedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155706\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9\\\\/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/eastern-district-virginia-hosts-911-observance-25th-anniversary-attacks\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"742b7955-ec26-4a6e-9f67-75f601244cc0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein May 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153560\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. \\\\u201cEl Gato,\\\\u201d of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149945\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:35:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148153\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-159\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Four-Times Deported Illegal Immigrant from Mexico Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/four-times-deported-illegal-immigrant-mexico-sentenced-more-11-years-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c7ad99a6-0739-4550-9ee0-35762827e994\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJ Sav,\\\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:41:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789141290\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:50:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134656\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/alleged-trinitarios-gang-member-charged-drug-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32c257b8-ef46-413e-adee-57c757cf5ef8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 37 months of imprisonment on his conviction of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Aquay Mitchell, 26, on September 10, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, on September 24, 2024, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detectives observed and attempted to stop Mitchell, suspecting that he possessed a firearm. Mitchell fled and was ultimately located hiding in a stairwell, with officers also finding a firearm, keys, and a cell phone along Mitchell\\\\u2019s flight path. The firearm was a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number that had been reported stolen, and the cellular telephone and keys belonged to Mitchell, who has multiple felony convictions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Mitchell was indicted in connection with the incident and a warrant issued for his arrest.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were conducting a proactive patrol of Pittsburgh\\\\u2019s Knoxville neighborhood when they observed Mitchell at a convenience store and took Mitchell into custody on the federal arrest warrant. In a search incident to arrest, officers recovered from Mitchell\\\\u2019s person a loaded semi-automatic pistol that also had been reported stolen, a knotted plastic baggie containing 11 grams of crack cocaine, a digital scale, and a cellular telephone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mitchell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:12:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789139549\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:11:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789139491\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/pittsburgh-felon-sentenced-more-three-years-prison-unlawful-possession-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"769c2b4a-af63-49bf-a037-c9e4b5c96011\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELEXINGTON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Louisville, Ky., man, Timothy Acker, 57, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAcker was previously convicted in 2018 for distributing illegal material involving minors and was a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;In 2024, law enforcement investigated and identified Acker as an online user operating multiple illicit content\\\\u2011sharing groups on encrypted messaging platforms. In early 2025, a separate investigation by law enforcement led to the discovery of thousands of illicit images across multiple electronic devices in Acker\\\\u2019s possession. Some of these files corresponded to content distributed online through the earlier investigation. Acker admitted to knowingly possessing the child sexual abuse material that he obtained via the internet.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Chief Clint Aldridge, Owenton Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office, Owenton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Collaboration from Leigh Ann Roberts, Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky\\\\u2019s Fifteenth Judicial District, facilitated the federal adoption of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:55:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127714\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:47:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127265\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-sentenced-possession-child-sexual-abuse-material\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d6e43266-9032-4488-bae7-af2b9f1553d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHag\\\\u00e5t\\\\u00f1a, Guam \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson, serving the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces the results of \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Protektot Y Famagu\\\\u2019on\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E (Defender of Children). This law enforcement initiative was led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Guam, with support from HSI Saipan, HSI Honolulu, HSI Atlanta Special Agents, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and HSI Task Force Officers from the Guam Police Department, Guam Customs \\\\u0026amp; Quarantine Agency, and Guam Airport Police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe operation, conducted from August 22 through August 27, involved a coordinated online undercover effort within the District of Guam aimed at identifying individuals attempting to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with minors. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of federal law enforcement agencies nationwide to protect children, hold offenders accountable, and prevent internet facilitated offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAs a result of Operation Protektot Y Famagu\\\\u2019on, five individuals were arrested for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u00a7 2422(b) and 2:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul class=\\\\u0022Indent2\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022edd9985b68ffa135c7db88144103fb437\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMike Ybanez Balbuena\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 44-year-old, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ede1e519086b597cb2097d53368431109\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEli Valentine\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 21-year-old, an active-duty U.S. Navy service member\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e813bd85db94f51f32a079689d686d6af\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKeola Joaquin H. Flores\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 30-year-old, a United States citizen\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e27b9431ae9f324cb6cbb7fddaa860776\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPeter John San Nicolas\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 36-year-old, a United States citizen\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eacac8478714cd56eaec5566ba277b26c\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAugusto Bagat Anselmo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 44-year-old, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. and citizen of the Republic of the Philippines\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;prosecution is\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Guam\\\\u0026nbsp;comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USSS, USPIS, USCIS\\\\u0026nbsp;and local law enforcement with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the\\\\u0026nbsp;District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty be\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nEEry Jordani Rosario, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRacacha,\\\\u201d 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10, 2026. Rosario was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein February 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members. In Massachusetts, the Trinitarios are alleged to have a state leadership, and multiple local Chapters in the cities of Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERosario was one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting on Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, Rosario and other chapter leaders of the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang\\\\u2019s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that will be visited upon members who betrayed the gang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERosario also admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan driven by Ery Jordani Rosario containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring today\\\\u2019s court proceedings, Rosario admitted to his membership and leadership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Rosario wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-related-five-murders-after\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJune 9, 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, members of the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in at least fifteen murders in Essex County since 2017. Since 2025, a total of 56 leaders, members and associates have been charged in federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as \\\\u201cracketeering conspiracy\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cRICO conspiracy\\\\u201d) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance (also known as drug conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million dollars. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. 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style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJames\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJimenez\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty, Awaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E18\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp 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class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWestyn\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELantigua\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/member-lynn-chapter-trinitarios-pleads-guilty-racketeering-conspiracy-2\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Awaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E20\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKelvin\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELiranzo Roman\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E25-CR-10058\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:228px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/trinitarios-gang-member-pleads-guilty-participating-2023-double-murder\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Awaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:53px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E21\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:104px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMichael\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:133px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMiliano\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:112px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-alig\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0034 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01BU1iA2pXi8gwSSE8DF7R9F

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01BU1iA2pXi8gwSSE8DF7R9F", "elapsed": 4.10413857, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":0},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.2644438743591309},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpokane, Washington \\\\u2013 First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on that on September 9, 2026, Aaron Farinacci was indicted by a federal grand jury for starting the Old Trails fire on August 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EA team of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been working alongside our state partners to identify applicable federal offenses. The investigation is active and ongoing as to additional potential federal charges. Farinacci is currently in state custody pending related state charges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:18:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150728\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68248c1d-1d3d-4ed1-90c4-bea03bd5a1ca\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Washington, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:16:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789150588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2:26-CR-0115-RLP\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"AARON FARINACCI FEDERALLY INDICTED FOR ARSON\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edwa\\\\/pr\\\\/aaron-farinacci-federally-indicted-arson\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8abf429c-6955-4818-b3d9-fdcc3707eaa1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said, \\\\u201cThis violent criminal illegal alien has learned that we have zero-tolerance for criminality of any kind in the Northern District of Florida, and he\\\\u2019ll see the inside of a federal prison before being removed from our country. Keeping our citizens safe from the predations of violent criminal illegal aliens, like this defendant, is of paramount importance, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute cases like this to ensure our immigration laws are fully enforced.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant, a citizen of Mexico, departed the United States in 2016 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. On September 27, 2025, the defendant was involved in a domestic dispute where he struck a female and threatened her with a knife. The defendant was arrested and convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Criminal illegal aliens who have previously been removed from the United States and choose to return illegally return and commit additional crimes against our citizens show a blatant disregard for our laws,\\\\u0022 said ICE Miami Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. \\\\u0022ICE remains committed to our mission of public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing those who pose a danger to the public, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:17:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132651\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:14:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789132490\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGainesville, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison After Threatening a Woman with a Knife \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/criminal-illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-federal-prison-after-threatening-woman-knife\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"328c9c39-4e0c-4765-bd2f-02e0267229ee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cKeeping dangerous, violent felons, like this defendant, off our streets is the surest way to keep our communities safe. I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to bring this dangerous criminal to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that Milton Police Department obtained a warrant to search the defendant\\\\u2019s home after receiving reports that he had fired a pistol inside the home during a domestic dispute. The defendant is a convicted felon and cannot legally possess a firearm. Upon searching the home, investigators found four 3D printers, multiple firearms made up of printed and manufactured gun parts, additional gun parts - both printed and manufactured - a Winchester rifle, significant amounts of ammunition, and some drugs and drug paraphernalia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cI am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and investigative efforts demonstrated by the Milton Police Department throughout this case,\\\\u201d said Milton Police Chief Frank. \\\\u201cThis case is a strong example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement and our prosecutorial partners work together with a shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the safety of the community we serve.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Milton Police Department, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:41:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134061\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:24:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789133051\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Darin Leigh Roy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Milton Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/milton-man-sentenced-possessing-firearms-convicted-felon\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e983c67-e139-40d5-837f-cc3a8b8fc419\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461056\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b094cb4-03d0-4856-a186-f788390b9c7a\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS, who is currently detained on charges that he violated the terms of his supervised release, was\\\\u0026nbsp;presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Southern District of New York\\\\u0026nbsp;will use every available tool to protect children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cDustin Tompkins represents every parent\\\\u2019s greatest fear: an adult who allegedly used social media to gain access to children and exploit them for his own sexual gratification. \\\\u0026nbsp;As alleged,\\\\u0026nbsp;while\\\\u0026nbsp;on\\\\u0026nbsp;supervision\\\\u0026nbsp;for\\\\u0026nbsp;a prior conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography,\\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins used social media to\\\\u0026nbsp;communicate\\\\u0026nbsp;with minors and\\\\u0026nbsp;persuade\\\\u0026nbsp;them to create and send him sexually explicit images. \\\\u0026nbsp;Tompkins is\\\\u0026nbsp;also\\\\u0026nbsp;alleged to have\\\\u0026nbsp;amassed\\\\u0026nbsp;additional child pornography\\\\u0026nbsp;via\\\\u0026nbsp;social media applications. \\\\u0026nbsp;If you have information to report,\\\\u0026nbsp;please immediately contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI\\\\u0026nbsp;(1-800-225-5324) or\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about March 18, 2015, TOMPKINS pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to receiving and distributing child pornography, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 18, United States Code, Section\\\\u0026nbsp;2252A(a)(2) and (b)(1), and was subsequently sentenced to 77\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn or about January 30, 2026, officers from the U.S. Probation Office conducted a routine supervisory visit and discovered hidden in TOMPKINS\\\\u2019s bedroom an unsanctioned smartphone.\\\\u0026nbsp; A subsequent court-authorized search of that smartphone found images comprising child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The search of the smartphone further revealed that, on or about January 24, 2026, TOMPKINS had created a messaging group using a social media application by which he received and viewed approximately 55 files containing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFinally, the smartphone search found that TOMPKINS, using a second social media application, had posed as an adult woman and exchanged messages with minors.\\\\u0026nbsp; Specifically, on or about October 14, 2025, Tompkins directed a 13-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph the conduct, and transmit the photograph to him.\\\\u0026nbsp; Then, on or about December 26, 2025, Tompkins directed, and attempted to direct, a 16\\\\u2011year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photograph and record the conduct, and transmit the photograph and video to him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere may be other victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1\\\\u2011800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https:\\\\/\\\\/tips.fbi.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOMPKINS, 38, of Mount Kisco, New York, is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, which each carry a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is also charged with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; TOMPKINS is finally charged with one count of committing the offenses charged in Counts One and Two while being a registered sex offender, which requires a sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to Counts One and Two.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald thanked\\\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Briggs and John Wynne are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3c32050731c80e95c532b465681ffe52\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153188\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:56:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-257\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that DUSTIN TOMPKINS, a registered sex offender, was charged with sexual exploitation of children by persuading, and attempting to persuade, them to create and send him sexually explicit images,\\\\u0026nbsp;receipt and distribution of child pornography, and committing offenses against children while being a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Charged With Sexual Exploitations Of Children And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-charged-sexual-exploitations-children-and-receipt-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b914b4dc-2237-47e8-a1b0-f0f7754d9916\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an \\\\u201cAR\\\\u201d style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America,\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:15:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146922\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:12:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789146733\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, of Sedalia, Mo., was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Involved in Shooting Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/man-involved-shooting-sentenced-96-months-imprisonment-illegally-possessing-stolen\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"114e328e-22ea-472c-a6f6-fee6c0ba6599\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A man has been sentenced to nearly ten years in federal prison for committing an armed carjacking in Chicago.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe carjacking occurred on Oct. 23, 2024, on a street in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago\\\\u2019s West Side.\\\\u0026nbsp; The victim and a companion\\\\u2014who played a part in the carjacking\\\\u2014were sitting in the victim\\\\u2019s idling Dodge Challenger when the companion reached over to the gear shift to attempt to place the Challenger into park.\\\\u0026nbsp; The victim and the companion struggled over the gear shift.\\\\u0026nbsp;JAMES HAMPTON and ANDY COLON, JR. then approached the vehicle and brandished firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp; Hampton told the victim, \\\\u201cDon\\\\u2019t be stupid,\\\\u201d meaning that he would shoot the victim if he did not comply with his demands.\\\\u0026nbsp; Hampton and Colon stole the victim\\\\u2019s watch, gold necklace, and cell phone before they and the companion drove off in the Challenger.\\\\u0026nbsp;They were arrested a short time later after Chicago Police gave chase.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUnbeknownst to the victim, the companion\\\\u2014MELIZA CALDERON\\\\u2014had been communicating with another individual about setting up the carjacking.\\\\u0026nbsp; The other individual allegedly told Calderon that he would send \\\\u201cthe guys\\\\u201d to \\\\u201chandle it.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHampton, 19, of Chicago,\\\\u0026nbsp;pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges.\\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Hampton to nine years and nine months in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHampton\\\\u2019s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Ryan Whalen, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.\\\\u0026nbsp;The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EColon pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm charges.\\\\u0026nbsp; Judge Blakey set Colon\\\\u2019s sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECalderon pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, carjacking, and firearm charges.\\\\u0026nbsp;Judge Blakey set Calderon\\\\u2019s sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:16:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161411\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:14:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161280\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJAMES HAMPTON brandished a gun during a carjacking on Chicago\\\\u2019s West Side.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Carjacking in Chicago Leads to Nearly Ten-Year Federal Prison Sentence\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-carjacking-chicago-leads-nearly-ten-year-federal-prison-sentence\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74f24c21-1143-4705-9a80-298649d549c5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\\\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (\\\\u201cPPP\\\\u201d), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (\\\\u201cSBA\\\\u201d), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (\\\\u201cCPEC\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (\\\\u201cEIDL\\\\u201d) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris\\\\u2019s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in \\\\u201ccost of goods sold\\\\u201d (i.e. payroll).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHowever, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend\\\\u2019s business.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:39:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789159152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:28:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789158494\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edpa\\\\/pr\\\\/new-jersey-woman-who-defrauded-pandemic-relief-program-more-half-million-dollars\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c48e755-8b3a-4531-a731-e56c4ce7cce5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461011\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77d701bf-f401-47a4-8ec1-c5459b978318\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWe will continue working with our committed law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use deception to put investors\\\\u2019 money at risk,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cAs alleged, Vuk Vukovic attracted investors to his fund and lulled them into keeping their money invested by reporting high rates of return that were not real. Investors deserve honest and accurate information when deciding where to put their hard-earned money.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cVuk Vukovic allegedly used interstate commerce to carry out a deceptive scheme involving the purchase and sale of securities,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThese allegations represent a serious breach of market integrity, and the FBI remains committed to enforcing securities laws to protect investors.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen individuals allegedly mislead investors and defraud them, the consequences extend far beyond their immediate crimes\\\\u2014they threaten the economic stability and livelihoods of American citizens,\\\\u201d said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cWhile investing always carries inherent risk, a breach of trust adds an unacceptable layer of deception. Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in holding accountable anyone who violates protective laws and compromises that trust. We urge the public to recognize the red flags of fraud, resist high-pressure tactics, and carefully assess every investment opportunity before acting.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOraclum is a New York-based hedge fund that operates and manages the Orca Bason Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Orca Bason Fund purports to make investment decisions \\\\u201cusing wisdom of crowds and a network analysis of social media bubbles to predict where markets will end up.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; Since at least 2024, however, VUKOVIC has engaged in a scheme to obtain investor money by misrepresenting the Orca Bason Fund\\\\u2019s returns to investors. VUKOVIC\\\\u2019s misrepresentations include: sending false monthly account statements to investors that show their investment in the Orca Bason Fund earning greater returns than it actually did; and sending falsified brokerage account statements to a potential investor reflecting a higher net asset value and greater returns than actually existed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVUKOVIC, 38, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of\\\\u0026nbsp;securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the USPIS.\\\\u0026nbsp;Mr. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1c1f22f9ad843fe4236b2d44aa85a413\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:36:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130176\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T08:34:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789130047\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-255\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald,\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (\\\\u201cUSPIS\\\\u201d),\\\\u0026nbsp;Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging VUK VUKOVIC, founder of the hedge fund Oraclum Capital LLC (\\\\u201cOraclum\\\\u201d) and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Orca Bason Fund, L.P. (the \\\\u201cOrca Bason Fund\\\\u201d or the \\\\u201cFund\\\\u201d), with securities fraud and wire fraud. VUKOVIC was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hedge Fund Founder Charged With Scheme To Misrepresent Fund Performance To Investors \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/hedge-fund-founder-charged-scheme-misrepresent-fund-performance-investors\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4b912645-2e6f-4fe5-861b-6c0d1d50b996\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\\\u201cInvestor-1\\\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143928\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143792\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-256\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMONROE \\\\u2013 On September 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERandy Allen Powell,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E 46, of Downsville, with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. As a re-offender, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces an enhanced sentence if convicted of all charges that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to a combined 60 years in federal prison. He was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in 2014, which led to a sentence of 15 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was serving his term of federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E receipt of child pornography while knowing he was being supervised by federal probation officers displays a level of desperate perversion that should concern every member of our community,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\\\u201cProtecting our children is the most sacred and urgent duty that this Office and our federal and state partners perform every single day. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute recidivist offenders, seeking federal prison sentences that reflect the need to deter this sick conduct and protect the public.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPowell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed child pornography on April 2, 2026, after having received it from between March 21 and 23 of 2026. Property subject to forfeiture as a result of the offense include a laptop, flash drive, smartphone, and tablet.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Probation Office investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amy Miller, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\\\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\\\u0026nbsp;at \\\\u0026nbsp;https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/about-project-safe-childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\\\/\\\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONTACT:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ECara Alexander: (337) 262-6704\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5fca62bc-f789-4d4a-9f67-764e0c0610a1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking - SMART (OJP)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:25:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147513\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Downsville Man Previously Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Indicted Again for Receiving Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\/pr\\\\/downsville-man-previously-convicted-receiving-child-pornography-indicted-again\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c8354d5-cf73-4277-8d5a-359e307bfe12\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA man who escaped custody and failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on September 10, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuane Levering, age 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from custody and one count of failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2005 Levering was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp; Based on this conviction, Levering is required to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the plea hearing, evidence showed that on December 23, 2025, Levering began confinement following his conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp; On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service received a Notice of Escaped Federal Prisoner for Levering from the Bureau of Prisons stating Levering failed to return to Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center from his reported employment site.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering admitted he willingly left the center and failed to register his new residence with the sex offender registry while he was on the run.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4019.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151212\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sioux City Man Who Failed to Register as a Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal Court\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/sioux-city-man-who-failed-register-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-federal-court\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35f34b92-2117-42e2-9e1b-ad958e6a13d7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA man who possessed firearms illegally was sentenced September 9, 2026, to more than 4 years in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoshua Layne Kelly, age 25, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 28, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the guilty plea, Kelly admitted that on November 6, 2025, in Webster County, he possessed an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver and a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, knowing he was then a felon.\\\\u0026nbsp; In early November 2025, he offered to sell an individual cooperating with law enforcement two revolvers.\\\\u0026nbsp; On November 6, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he sold the cooperating individual an FIE, Little Ranger .22 caliber revolver, a High Standard, Double Nine .22 caliber revolver, and approximately 3.5 grams of synthetic cannabinoids (K2\\\\/Spice).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPrior to his possession of the firearms, he had been convicted of numerous crimes including multiple incidents of Burglary and Theft.\\\\u0026nbsp; At the time of his possession of the firearms, he was also an unlawful user of marijuana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.\\\\u0026nbsp; Kelly was sentenced to 57 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly is being held in the United States Marshal\\\\u2019s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Webster County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 25-CR-03064.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:29:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151393\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:28:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789151330\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/fort-dodge-man-sentenced-federal-prison-illegally-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"184cbcfc-f5f7-4029-96ea-72d2c46fa8bc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESPRINGFIELD, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years\\\\u2019 supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELess than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office located Reed\\\\u2019s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EReed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:20:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147217\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:19:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789147151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoy Dewayne Reed, 46, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Springfield Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Meth and Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/springfield-man-sentenced-over-20-years-meth-and-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"914778fc-9471-431f-9ea4-e70181684211\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\\\u2013 A Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Leobardo Carrasco, 39, of Wilmington, communicated with multiple minors on Snapchat, where he engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent them nude photos of himself, and asked the minors to send nude photographs and videos to him.\\\\u0026nbsp; For example, Carrasco convinced a 9-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos and to also share her location with him over Snapchat.\\\\u0026nbsp; After receiving her location, Carrasco traveled from Delaware to the girl\\\\u2019s Maryland residence in the middle of the night and tried to convince her to come with him.\\\\u0026nbsp; The girl did not get in his vehicle and Carrasco left.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECarrasco is charged in a criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2423(b); production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2251(a); receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(2); and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(4)(B).\\\\u0026nbsp; If convicted, Carrasco faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;The FBI Baltimore\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with assistance from Anne Arundel County Police Department and Army Criminal Investigation (CID) Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-466.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:52:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127555\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Delaware\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T01:17:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789103839\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Delaware Army Reservist was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on September 9, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Delaware Army Reservist Arrested for Production of Child Pornography and Traveling for Sex with a 9-Year-Old\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\/pr\\\\/delaware-army-reservist-arrested-production-child-pornography-and-traveling-sex-9-year\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dcd7d019-0974-4300-874a-9f1c8d0aec5d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation hosted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos. The observation featured remembrances from former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spencer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThree months after the attacks, Al Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia. Moussaoui was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, conspiracy to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, and conspiracy to destroy property. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to life in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMoussaoui remains the only individual to date to have ever been convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the September 11 attacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is impossible to adequately describe either the responsibility of bringing a measure of justice for those lost on September 11, 2001, or the honor of having been entrusted with that responsibility,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Stamos. \\\\u201cDedicated EDVA employees passed the Pentagon on their daily commute to this office where they tirelessly worked on the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui. Among the best ways we can honor those who were lost that day are vigilance against those who seek to harm America and its people and the unyielding pursuit of justice each day.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155706\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:41:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia observed the 25\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center with a reflective presentation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Eastern District of Virginia hosts 9\\\\/11 observance on 25th anniversary of attacks\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/eastern-district-virginia-hosts-911-observance-25th-anniversary-attacks\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"742b7955-ec26-4a6e-9f67-75f601244cc0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits for nearly 25 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS-OIG), announced the verdict.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFor more than 20 years and until her lies caught up to her, the defendant refused to come to work and instead collected tax-free disability benefits for a highly-exaggerated injury,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cOur Office and the Administration has made it a priority to hold accountable those who exploit government benefits programs for personal gain and steal funds that are designated for workers who truly need them.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and the United States Department of Labor (DOL) for their assistance with the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs proven at trial, in August 1997, Middleton, who was in her mid-forties, claimed that she had sustained an injury to her lower back while performing her duties as a postal clerk.\\\\u0026nbsp; Middleton submitted a claim for compensation to the DOL and began receiving workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits approximately three months later.\\\\u0026nbsp; Middleton briefly returned to work in a limited duty capacity in February 1999, after a medical doctor found that she was in fact capable of working; but then claimed she had a recurrence of her back injury, which rendered her totally and permanently disabled.\\\\u0026nbsp; She again began receiving workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits \\\\u2013 roughly two-thirds of her annual salary, tax-free \\\\u2013 from the DOL.\\\\u0026nbsp; Between November 1997 and September 2022, Middleton regularly submitted medical evaluations and records to the USPS and the DOL claiming that she was incapable of returning to work, and that she was totally disabled.\\\\u0026nbsp; The evaluations claimed, for example, that Middleton could sit, stand, walk, bend, lift and reach above her shoulders for zero hours and could not participate in any physical activities because of her excruciating back pain.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHowever, the investigation revealed that between October 2015 and March 2022, Middleton engaged in numerous physical activities, including cleaning out a garage, sitting through a movie for more than two hours, standing for more than one hour at a cookie decorating class, climbing stairs and retail shopping.\\\\u0026nbsp; Middleton was observed, and captured on video footage, carrying groceries and laundry bags, lifting and reaching for objects at heights she claimed she could not reach, bending to the floor to retrieve items, and hoisting a bag of potting soil from the bottom of her shopping cart into her vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Records from USPS and DOL indicate that Middleton received more than $900,000 in fraudulent workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits as the result of her claimed physical limitations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division).\\\\u0026nbsp; The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office\\\\u2019s Long Island Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Ashlyn Miranda are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder, Legal Assistant Danielle Rompel, and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELUANN MIDDLETON\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge: 72\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EGlen Cove, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-339 (GRB)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:48:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789163329\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:36:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789162589\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Luann Middleton, a former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee, of wire fraud in connection with her repeated submission of false workers compensation forms to the United States Department of Labor (DOL), in which she claimed total disability, and thereby received approximately $40,000 per year in federal workers\\\\u2019 compensation benefits for nearly 25 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Middleton faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as financial penalties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Postal Worker Convicted of Stealing Nearly $1 Million in Tax-Free Federal Disability Benefits\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/former-postal-worker-convicted-stealing-nearly-1-million-tax-free-federal-disability\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1e4468a9-8f75-4fa5-ae16-ce671556093b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Operation Take Back America Memo\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Chuck Sullivan and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:30:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789162234\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:26:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161992\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Arellano Antonio Gomez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Roberto Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Cervantes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Cervantes-Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Antonio Gomez Arellano, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Robert Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Juan Rober Rodriguez-Cervantes, age 47, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 11, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on April 21, 2026, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 3, 2010, August 29, 2011, and November 29, 2017.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Sentenced For Unlawful Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-unlawful-reentry-35\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2aee0585-1658-4891-af9b-892460d74d63\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein May 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153560\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELamont Champion, 27, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged in the complaint, Champion possessed a firearm that had previously been used to murder two individuals in Cincinnati and himself used a second firearm to commit two other shootings,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. \\\\u201cWe continue to work with our partners at the ATF and the Cincinnati Police Department in leveraging the capabilities of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) to identify these crime guns and hold shooters to account.\\\\u201d \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, law enforcement officials recovered a firearm from Champion in June 2026 from which ballistics results matched casings from a February homicide of two victims at the Villages of Roll Hill. Law enforcement seized this firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis morning, agents recovered a second firearm from Champion that he allegedly used in two separate subsequent shootings. Champion allegedly shot a victim on East Clifton Avenue in July 2026. In the second shooting, in August, Champion allegedly fired gunshots at the occupants of a car in the area of the Enclave Event Center.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnalysis from National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) indicates the same firearm was used in the July and August shootings.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents executed a search warrant at Champion\\\\u2019s residence this morning and recovered both the 9mm handgun allegedly used in the July and August shootings and a second firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion\\\\u2019s phone was searched and allegedly contained a series of text and audio messages in which Champion referred to himself as the \\\\u201creaper,\\\\u201d explained how good he is at shooting\\\\/killing people, how he does it with a smile on his face and how \\\\u201chittin a mother***er\\\\u201d would make him happy for a whole month. The messages also contained Champion describing the events of one of the shootings and mockingly describing the way the victim reacted to being shot.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChampion has prior felony convictions for fentanyl and firearms crimes. Possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms \\\\u0026amp; Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie\\\\u0026nbsp;announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Frederick C. Shadley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson\\\\u2019s Office are representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:13:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789154032\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:12:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153961\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Cincinnati man this morning who allegedly possessed firearms connected to at least two homicides and three total shootings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gang task force arrests Cincinnati man allegedly tied to multiple shootings\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/gang-task-force-arrests-cincinnati-man-allegedly-tied-multiple-shootings\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a958bae7-b9b5-48b0-bc86-f0941e8923ec\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJ Sav,\\\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nllowing a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-gu\\\\/pr\\\\/five-defendants-indicted-attempted-enticement-minors-following-homeland-security-task\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"03cbf29a-eff3-454c-9038-b8a59506c019\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Texas man was sentenced this week to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Aanand Shukla, of Jonestown, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States related to his efforts to promote a fraudulent tax shelter to business owners across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 to 2025, Shukla and his co-conspirators promoted, sold and personally used an abusive trust tax shelter that promised clients \\\\u2014 for quoted fees as high as $225,000 \\\\u2014 that they could \\\\u201cown nothing, control everything\\\\u201d and eliminate taxes on nearly all of their business income while maintaining full control over their money.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EShukla marketed the scheme nationwide through seminars, webinars, podcasts and direct sales pitches. He instructed clients to restructure their companies so that approximately 98% of their business income flowed through layered trusts and a private family foundation. He told clients to run personal expenses \\\\u2014 such as vehicles, entertainment and mortgage payments \\\\u2014 through trust accounts and claim those expenses as deductions. Shukla typically sold these trust packages to clients for $25,000 to $55,000, created trust documents, trained other promoters and referred clients to tax preparers he had personally selected and knew would participate in the scheme. Shukla facilitated the concealment of more than $27 million in income from the IRS.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 10, Shukla pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Nation Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActing Assistant Deputy Chief Boris Bourget, Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones and former Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:38:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789141117\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:21:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789140089\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1044\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for promoting an abusive tax shelter to business owners around the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Promoting Abusive Tax Shelter\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/texas-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-abusive-tax-shelter\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"43e31f50-b2d0-48b8-984b-150a2645b8c8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOLEDO, Ohio \\\\u2013 A 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETeunis Jan Willemsen, a citizen of the Netherlands residing in Frankton, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 months of probation and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, as well as serve 100 hours of community service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay imposed the judgment Sept. 8 after Willemsen pleaded guilty in May to negligently discharging a pollutant in violation of the Clean Water Act. The discharge was dumped into the Little Black Creek, which is a tributary of Saint Mary\\\\u2019s River that flows to the Maumee River.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in December 2022 Willemsen was serving as the manager of Heartland Dairy\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E,\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E when investigators found that a discharge was being pumped from a settling basin on the dairy\\\\u2019s property into a nearby ditch that drained into a waterway. The discharge was analyzed and found to consist of manure and silage leachate, which contained concentrated amounts of ammonia\\\\u2014a pollutant\\\\u2014that resulted in the death of approximately 789 fish and 1,371 other aquatic animals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cReckless and careless business practices that threaten Ohio\\\\u2019s environment and wildlife will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDavid M. Toepfer\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio. \\\\u201cLet this sentence serve as a reminder that we will aggressively enforce federal environmental laws, and anyone found contributing to the diminishment of the quality of our land, air, and water will be prosecuted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendant oversaw a discharge of ammonia-laden wastewater to Little Black Creek in the Maumee River, Ohio watershed that poisoned the water for miles and killed thousands of fish and other aquatic animals,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA\\\\u2019s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. \\\\u201cClean water is one of Ohio\\\\u2019s and America\\\\u2019s most valuable resources. This sentencing demonstrates that the EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations that pollute interstate waterways and hold polluters accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOhio\\\\u2019s waterways are vital to our communities, our wildlife and our economy. This case sends a clear message: those who pollute Ohio\\\\u2019s waterways will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.epa.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov\\\\/law-enforcement\\\\/bureau-of-criminal-investigation\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal\\\\u0026nbsp;Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/epa.ohio.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Environmental Protection\\\\u0026nbsp;Agency\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E Special Investigations Unit, with support from the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ohiodnr.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOhio Department of Natural\\\\u0026nbsp;Resources\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMatthew D. Simko\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Sasha Reyes, U.S. EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you have information or see activity that you believe is a potential or immediate environmental problem, please call the Ohio EPA 24-hour Hotline at\\\\u0026nbsp;800-282-9378 or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.\\\\u0026nbsp;Potential environmental violations can be reported at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/echo.epa.gov\\\\/report-environmental-violations\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:48:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789156109\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:44:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789155870\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 54-year-old man employed at a northern Ohio dairy was sentenced after he admitted responsibility for environmental pollutants that were dumped into a waterway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dairy Manager Sentenced for Role in Polluting Waterway With Waste That Caused a Fish Kill\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndoh\\\\/pr\\\\/dairy-manager-sentenced-role-polluting-waterway-waste-caused-fish-kill\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"adf25be3-03ab-4905-a72e-919c0f197041\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGulfport, MS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Jackson County, Mississippi man was sentenced on September 9, 2026, to 15 years in prison, the maximum amount of prison time provided by federal law, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Lee Craven, 46, was found possessing a firearm by the Jackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department on June 22, 2025, after they were called to his home for a domestic disturbance. Craven was captured on an audio recording physically and verbally abusing a female victim while holding her at gunpoint.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:30:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789144244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"03d3abbf-d79b-4e8f-aec5-c2045a0ee879\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Department of Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e0caf4e9-dfe7-461d-bba1-5423e45ec34f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Mississippi, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:28:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789144081\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jackson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdms\\\\/pr\\\\/jackson-county-man-sentenced-15-years-prison-being-felon-possession-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5adf5a0e-82b8-49fd-8d3f-a5aba1416ab5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ENarcotics\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJoseph Randall Summerlin,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in May 2025, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) learned that Summerlin was selling methamphetamine on the Wind River Reservation. Special agents conducted a controlled buy, purchasing more than one ounce of methamphetamine from him. DCI investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Summerlin was indicted Sept. 16, 2025, and pleaded guilty May 27, 2026. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence Sept. 9, 2026, in Cheyenne. Case No. 25CR00137-01KHR\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAbout the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022 data-once=\\\\u0022usdoj-extlink-stale-reset\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/operation-take-back-america\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wy\\\\/victim-witness-program\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_self\\\\u0022\\\\u003EVictim Witness Program\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo report a federal crime, go to: \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/actioncenter\\\\/report-crime\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/actioncenter\\\\/report-crime\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149954\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d9b7193e-06fe-42e9-aaef-0b6fe19104d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wyoming\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T13:43:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789148638\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-043\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJoseph Randall Summerlin,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E52, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Activity in the U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026#039;s Office Recent Sentencings \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wy\\\\/pr\\\\/activity-us-attorneys-office-recent-sentencings-3\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdb83436-b382-4a21-8318-c1848eff5f5f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Two Mescalero men pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from an unprovoked attack that left a victim with serious head injuries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on September 11, 2025, John Doe was at a residence within the exterior boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation when he was assaulted by \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EHarlyn Cody Geronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 50, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERaymond Shaun Chee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 28, both enrolled members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E struck John Doe in the head during the assault. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E also struck John Doe with his fists and a pair of rain boots and kicked him while he was on the ground. The assault caused significant contusions and a 4-centimeter scalp laceration to John Doe\\\\u2019s head and resulted in serious bodily injury.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWitnesses reported that \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who was wearing steel-toed boots, kicked John Doe in the head. After the incident, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E fled the scene.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing his arrest, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s steel-toed boots were recovered and found to contain dried blood. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E later denied assaulting John Doe, despite witness statements to the contrary.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGeronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, they face up to 10 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:05:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149931\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:04:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789149861\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-265\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EHarlyn Cody Geronimo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERaymond Shaun Chee\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from an unprovoked attack that left a victim with serious head injuries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Mescalero Men Plead Guilty to Assault\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/two-mescalero-men-plead-guilty-assault\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c5a711e-6838-4386-882b-6378b8a10a27\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWICHITA, KAN. \\\\u2013 A Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Dakota Dale McDaniel, 38, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn September 2025, as part of an investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) attempted to stop McDaniel with lights and sirens. He refused to yield and kept driving. Before losing sight of him, a trooper observed that McDaniel was wearing a black backpack. When law enforcement located McDaniel a short time later, the motorcycle and the backpack were on the ground. A trooper searched the backpack and found a bag of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a firearm among other items. McDaniel was wearing a Kansas Department of Corrections ankle monitor, and the charger for it was also in the backpack.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaboratory tests determined that the bag contained 240.23 grams of 98.2 percent pure methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDakota McDaniel can now add another prison sentence to his long resume as a career criminal,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \\\\u201cWe\\\\u2019re grateful for the exceptional teamwork among our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to keep methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs off our streets.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Kansas Highway Patrol, Sedgwick County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Butler County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:59:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153161\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kansas\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:55:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152916\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Kansas man was sentenced to 168 months in prison after law enforcement officers found him with a distribution amount of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kansas man wearing ankle monitor caught with methamphetamine \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ks\\\\/pr\\\\/kansas-man-wearing-ankle-monitor-caught-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"258c0b94-32ae-4e38-9e41-68eae3466a5e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A four-times deported illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for knowingly selling more than pound quantities of fentanyl pills to a buyer to whom he also sold firearms and ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonio Espinoza Zarate, 56, a.k.a. \\\\u201cEl Gato,\\\\u201d of the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza pleaded guilty on May 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been in federal custody since March 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, from July 2023 to March 2025, Espinoza conspired with others to knowingly distribute fentanyl by obtaining distribution-level quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid to sell to potential drug customers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, in July 2023, Espinoza obtained 4,592 pills (527 grams) of fentanyl, which he sold to a buyer in Los Angeles for $4,500. Espinoza also sold the buyer $1,700 in firearms and ammunition, including a Glock pistol and 131 rounds of ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2023, Espinoza met with another buyer in Los Angeles and, for $8,000, sold the buyer 9,826 pills containing slightly more than 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Espinoza also sold the buyer a rifle for $2,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEspinoza, a Mexican national, was removed from the United States in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017, according to court documents.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, with support from special agents with the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Central District of California \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigative Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding dangers to the community from the sales of narcotics and firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States A\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0037 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01FxqynahweWfCTBj8SvSnzx

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01FxqynahweWfCTBj8SvSnzx", "elapsed": 4.568602248, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":1},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.3290669918060303},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJhesy Rodriguez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJ Sav,\\\\u201d 31, of Lawrence, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to charging documents, Rodriguez was encountered during the execution of a search warrant in Lawrence, Mass., in September 2025. That search resulted in the seizure of three firearms, approximately 10 grams of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and multiple cellular phones. The search of cellular phones revealed that Rodriguez had allegedly been distributing drugs for multiple years, all while subject to pretrial release conditions and a GPS bracelet ordered by the state court in a pending firearm case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages recovered from Rodriguez\\\\u2019s phone allegedly revealed that he arranged for drug transactions to take place at his child\\\\u2019s birthday party that was being held at a Chuck E. Cheese, and after a drug test. The charging documents also describe multiple cooperating witnesses in the Trinitarios investigation who identified Rodriguez\\\\u2019s alleged participation in two Trinitarios shootings, one in Lynn and one in Lawrence, as part of the Trinitarios.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by US Marshal Service for the District of Massachusetts, Lowell Police and Middlesex Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T11:41:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789141290\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:50:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134656\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 An alleged member of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios has been arrested and charged in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Drug Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/alleged-trinitarios-gang-member-charged-drug-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32c257b8-ef46-413e-adee-57c757cf5ef8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELEXINGTON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Louisville, Ky., man, Timothy Acker, 57, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAcker was previously convicted in 2018 for distributing illegal material involving minors and was a registered sex offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;In 2024, law enforcement investigated and identified Acker as an online user operating multiple illicit content\\\\u2011sharing groups on encrypted messaging platforms. In early 2025, a separate investigation by law enforcement led to the discovery of thousands of illicit images across multiple electronic devices in Acker\\\\u2019s possession. Some of these files corresponded to content distributed online through the earlier investigation. Acker admitted to knowingly possessing the child sexual abuse material that he obtained via the internet.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Chief Clint Aldridge, Owenton Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office, Owenton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Collaboration from Leigh Ann Roberts, Commonwealth Attorney for Kentucky\\\\u2019s Fifteenth Judicial District, facilitated the federal adoption of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:55:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127714\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T07:47:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789127265\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/registered-sex-offender-sentenced-possession-child-sexual-abuse-material\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d6e43266-9032-4488-bae7-af2b9f1553d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\\\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Treva Harris, 50, of Medford, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $7,500 fine, a $100 special assessment, and $535,000 in restitution by United States District Judge John F. Murphy for fraudulently obtaining a loan award of approximately $535,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (\\\\u201cPPP\\\\u201d), established by the federal government to provide emergency financial assistance to small businesses and their workers suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant was charged by information in August of last year and pleaded guilty in October to one count of bank fraud, waiving prosecution by indictment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, in 2020, Harris applied for and received multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (\\\\u201cSBA\\\\u201d), including two loans for a Philadelphia childcare business named Child Prodigy Education Center (\\\\u201cCPEC\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe first of the two loans was an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (\\\\u201cEIDL\\\\u201d) that resulted in approximately $514,900 in disbursements to Harris. Harris\\\\u2019s EIDL loan application, originally submitted in April 2020, accurately represented that her childcare business had only three employees, gross income of $165,907 for the past 12 months, and $113,420 in \\\\u201ccost of goods sold\\\\u201d (i.e. payroll).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHowever, just two months later, Harris submitted a separate PPP loan application for CPEC, including fabricated IRS documentation, in which she falsely claimed that CPEC actually had 27 employees and a monthly payroll of $214,000, or $2,568,000 annually. Based on that application, she received a loan of $535,000, much of which she promptly misspent on personal luxury retail purchases, large cash withdrawals, and checks written to her boyfriend\\\\u2019s business.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Matthew T. Newcomer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:39:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789159152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T16:28:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789158494\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Jersey Woman Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program of More Than Half a Million Dollars Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edpa\\\\/pr\\\\/new-jersey-woman-who-defrauded-pandemic-relief-program-more-half-million-dollars\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c48e755-8b3a-4531-a731-e56c4ce7cce5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraud in the startup space hurts investors and makes it more difficult for other enterprising businesses to raise money,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cIlit Raz lied to investors about key aspects of her startup company, Joonko Diversity, Inc., and fabricated documents to support those lies, to obtain $27 million in investments. Her now-bankrupt company left victim investors with millions of dollars in losses.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe guilty plea makes clear that defrauding investors and misrepresenting essential facts about a company will not be tolerated,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cBy admitting to her role in the scheme, Ilit Raz has acknowledged the seriousness of her actions and the harm caused to investors. Victims deserve justice, and the FBI will continue to work to ensure they receive it.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoonko was a company that purported to offer an artificial intelligence-based product designed to help prospective employers identify and hire job candidates from diverse backgrounds. To induce prospective and existing Joonko investors to invest approximately $27 million in funding rounds in 2021 and 2022, RAZ made false claims regarding central aspects of Joonko\\\\u2019s business, including falsely representing how many customers Joonko had at the time, and falsely representing the identity of those customers. For example, RAZ falsely represented that Joonko\\\\u2019s customers included some of the world\\\\u2019s largest companies, including a credit card company, sports apparel brand, online travel company, and luxury fashion brand. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ knew, these companies were never Joonko customers. In addition to overstating the number of customers that Joonko had and the identity of those customers, RAZ also made false representations about Joonko\\\\u2019s actual and anticipated revenues.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter RAZ made false and misleading statements regarding Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and revenue, several investors who received those statements invested in a series of funding rounds with Joonko. Specifically, on or about June 1, 2021, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $10 million in a Series A round with Joonko. On or about June 2, 2022, several investors, including venture capital firms, invested a total of approximately $17 million in a Series B round with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn or about 2023, a Joonko investor (\\\\u201cInvestor-1\\\\u201d) became suspicious about Joonko\\\\u2019s performance and requested certain information from Joonko, including bank statements. In response, on or about April 3, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a purported Joonko bank statement, which depicted that the company had an average balance of over $5,000,000. In truth and in fact, and as RAZ well knew, the bank records that RAZ emailed to Investor-1 were forged, and the actual bank records showed that Joonko\\\\u2019s true account balance was millions of dollars lower. Less than a week later, on or about April 8, 2023, RAZ emailed Investor-1 a set of purported purchase orders for Joonko customers. RAZ knew that many of the purchase orders she emailed to Investor-1 were fictitious, contained forged signatures, and were executed on behalf of purported customers that had no business relationship with Joonko.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAZ, 40, an Israeli citizen, pled guilty to securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Peter Davis are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:25:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143928\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T12:23:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789143792\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-256\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ILIT RAZ, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (\\\\u201cJoonko\\\\u201d), pled guilty to securities fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud investors and mislead them about core aspects of the company she founded, including the identity and quantity of Joonko\\\\u2019s customers and Joonko\\\\u2019s revenue.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Founder And Former CEO Of Artificial Intelligence Company Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/founder-and-former-ceo-artificial-intelligence-company-pleads-guilty-securities-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c1f6d09e-4c49-45bc-834e-3eb9b9788c58\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McCurtain County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Choctaw County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. \\\\u0026nbsp;Clark will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:15:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789161349\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:07:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789160857\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a\\\\/k\\\\/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 46, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 10, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on May 10, 2025, law enforcement discovered Clark in possession of one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"McCurtain County Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearms And Ammunition\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/mccurtain-county-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearms-and-ammunition\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"398b247c-60ab-4b93-b752-c953c84f4af8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOVINGTON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Cincinnati man, Juan Wesley McKenzie, Jr., 25, was sentenced to 300 months in prison on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, McKenzie supplied fentanyl pills to Andrew Rossi, who then distributed portions of those pills to Steffany Keene. Keene subsequently sold several pills to a victim, who consumed them and died from fentanyl toxicity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing the death, investigators used the victim\\\\u2019s cellphone to arrange controlled purchases that led to the arrests of Keene and Rossi on February 13, 2024. Both individuals admitted their roles in the distribution chain and confirmed the defendant as their supplier. Laboratory analysis verified that the seized pills contained fentanyl, and an autopsy confirmed fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcKenzie also has a prior conviction for trafficking a fentanyl\\\\u2011related compound. In 2025, while jailed, the defendant directed an associate to alter or destroy seized cellphones to impede the ongoing federal investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter previously pleading guilty to distribution and possession of a fentanyl resulting in death, Rossi received 150 months in prison in July 2026, and Keene received 144 months in prison in June 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and; Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:59:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789163951\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T17:57:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789163869\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Cincinnati Man Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution leading to Overdose Death\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/cincinnati-man-sentenced-fentanyl-distribution-leading-overdose-death\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fb55cde8-1296-400d-94a5-212a41879b5d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 41 months in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Alvarez was charged \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-arrested-child-pornography-offense\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein May 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 3, 2025, upon arrival at Boston\\\\u2019s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. During a review of Alvarez\\\\u2019s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. Multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old were discovered. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Julissa Walsh of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153560\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T15:03:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789153422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789128000\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dominican National Sentenced to Over Three Years for Child Pornography Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/dominican-national-sentenced-over-three-years-child-pornography-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"25d50764-7edc-4a4d-823c-0d32ac563304\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\\\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\\\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCampos Reyes\\\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\\\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\\\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECampos\\\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECampos\\\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789053399\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789052991\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdal\\\\/pr\\\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789048448\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Carolina\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T09:19:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789046373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sc\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-2-years-federal-prison-identity-theft-and-passport-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"650f85a3-d253-4238-bc6e-06b781dad42d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on December 19, 2024, BPD officers arrived at a building to assist BCPD detectives with executing an arrest warrant on Toliver. The warrant was in connection with a November 2024 shooting.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBCPD detectives located Toliver sitting in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Toliver out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest. As law enforcement searched Toliver, officers discovered oxycodone, cocaine base, and cocaine on him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter towing the vehicle to BCPD Headquarters, law enforcement uncovered a loaded handgun with seven live rounds of ammunition under the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Toliver is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions. Additionally, investigators found $3,604.17, along with a large amount of Toliver\\\\u2019s clothing in the vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BCPD, and BPD for their work in the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T18:31:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789165884\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:06:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789070769\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-felon-sentenced-illegal-firearm-possession-hstf-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dc3d302b-0a29-48eb-ac72-65b5354d06b4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\\\u2013 An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins\\\\u2019s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins\\\\u2019s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:33:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072382\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:32:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072330\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-sentenced-prison-illegally-possessing-multiple-firearms-and-violating-supervised\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"88a1ab96-5381-4866-896e-5b479658f090\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 A convicted felon from St. Louis on Thursday admitted being caught in a stolen car with two shotguns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaurice Brown Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On April 12, 2026, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers learned that a recently stolen Audi A4 was spotted driving in St. Louis. After following the car, Brown was seen by officers walking away from the car and a local resident identified him as the driver. Brown had an active warrant and was on probation at the time. When officers searched Brown, they found the keys to the car in his pocket. In the car, they found two shotguns. As a felon, Brown is barred from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Freedlund is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:14:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071249\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:11:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071075\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaurice Brown Jr. was driving a recently stolen Audi A4 and had two shotguns in the car.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"St. Louis Felon Admits Being Caught in Stolen Car with Two Shotguns\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/st-louis-felon-admits-being-caught-stolen-car-two-shotguns\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"23742ee6-c4b6-4dbc-837a-75e50c59fd24\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada\\\\u2019s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis week\\\\u0027s sweeping indictments send a clear message: if you flood our streets with illegal guns or use a firearm to terrorize our neighborhoods, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of federal law,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cOur office, alongside our dedicated local and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to dismantle the networks driving gun violence and bring peace back to our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis week, federal firearms enforcement efforts in the District of Nevada resulted in the sentencing of an individual involved in the unlawful purchase of firearms and separate federal indictments charging four individuals prohibited from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJerion Ballott\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was sentenced today to three years\\\\u2019 probation for providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm at a Federal Firearms Licensee in Las Vegas. Between May 2020 and March 2022, he aided his co-defendant in purchasing 18 firearms that were later resold to others \\\\u2013 some of those firearms ended up in the hands of criminals. He has a prior domestic violence conviction, and he is prohibited by law from possessing firearms. The government recommended 18 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition, a federal grand jury returned separate indictments this week charging three individuals with prior felony convictions and one individual who is unlawfully in the United States with illegally possessing firearms. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to allegations made in the separate indictments:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about August 13, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharles Richard Cleary, Jr. \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epossessed a semi-automatic .32 caliber pistol, a .30-06 Springfield caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun, after he had previously been convicted of murder in Indiana. Cleary Jr. is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about August 27, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EVadim Merkulov\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who is an illegal alien in the United States, possessed multiple firearms including a 9x18mm Makarov firearm, a .45 caliber firearm, and a 5.56 caliber firearm. Merkulov is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about June 9, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERondall Talley\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of carjacking, interference with commerce by robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in Nevada. Talley was on federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense. Talley is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;On or about February 20, 2026, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EWesley Alan Wilson\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of grand larceny auto, possession of forged instrument, two counts of possession of stolen vehicle, and attempt possession of stolen vehicle, all in Clark County, Nevada. Wilson is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese cases are being investigated by the ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Melinda Brewer, Steven Rose, Joseph Sciscento, and Melanee Smith are prosecuting these cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T19:26:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789082791\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T19:16:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789082209\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada\\\\u2019s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Firearms Offenses Weekly Roundup\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-firearms-offenses-weekly-roundup\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"332dc624-4173-4793-8726-975851bee839\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cKnowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol\\\\u2011whipping her,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\\\u201cThis defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as \\\\u201cboot.\\\\u201d A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol under a car.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. \\\\u0026nbsp;During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight\\\\u2019s pants.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\\\u2013 Washington Field Division.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460911\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_1.png?itok=Ho1RXseT\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022390\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022372\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Suspect standing in front of library\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460916\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_2.png?itok=dVfmGU-F\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022506\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022378\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;The loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol found in Knight\\\\u2019s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460921\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_3.png?itok=CCRxsnuD\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022418\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022434\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EThe 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr21\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067497\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066703\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460911\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a41a8c09-34a8-4f3c-aec3-e79de1c1e405\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Suspect standing in front of library\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460916\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aeda6d44-6423-47e9-b74b-6b22370001cd\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460921\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8957d818-1095-461f-88e1-57ce50e37567\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/repeat-felon-sentenced-10-years-dc-after-shooting-two-women-separate-attacks-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b9c0e10b-5957-4a8b-9d7f-a74c4aa89716\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA \\\\u2013 A Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJustin Michael Hoover,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle. In total, investigators recovered more than 61 grams of methamphetamine. Hoover\\\\u2019s criminal history includes earlier offenses involving drugs, firearms, domestic battery, and various driving violations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:17:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789064258\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2a654da-3abd-4317-aec0-c05c193094cf\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:14:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789064091\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJustin Michael Hoover, 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Career Criminal Sentenced for Drug Distribution\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/pr\\\\/career-criminal-sentenced-drug-distribution\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e99ec58a-7fd0-4cbb-bcbc-d2de615af503\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Andrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe verdict follows a trial that occurred after the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed Patrick\\\\u2019s 2023 conviction for the same armed carjacking and remanded the case for a new trial. The Honorable Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. \\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the government\\\\u2019s evidence, on September 22, 2022, the victim took her 2005 blue Chevy Suburban to the Good Hope Road gas station in Washington, DC. The defendant, dressed in a black jacket with white stripes and a hoodie, approached the victim and demanded her car keys while holding her at gunpoint. Patrick pushed her up against her own vehicle, took her keys, and drove away in the victim\\\\u2019s car. Investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department resulted in the arrest of the defendant within hours of the carjacking. He has been in custody since that time.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Monisha H. Rao.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E2022 CF3 005665\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:52:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066324\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:40:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789065605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jury Finds District Man Guilty of 2022 Armed Carjacking \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-finds-district-man-guilty-2022-armed-carjacking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"36da8048-e56b-496a-b1c9-746a26da36fa\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried the victim\\\\u2019s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal\\\\u2019s direction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2022, Madrigal coaxed Murillo\\\\u2019s wife, Maira Sofia Hernandez, 33, to come to the ranch by claiming her husband was waiting for her there and wanted to see her. Hernandez did not know that only a few days earlier, Madrigal and his co-conspirators had shot, killed and buried her husband at the same ranch. Madrigal picked Hernandez up in Yakima and drove her 45 minutes into the mountains to the ranch.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen the visibly pregnant Hernandez arrived at the ranch, the defendant parked and they got out of his car. Soon thereafter, Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators shot her multiple times in the head and body. U.S. District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw described Hernandez\\\\u2019s drive to the ranch as \\\\u201ca one-way ticket for her.\\\\u201d Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried Hernandez in a separate deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch, again at Madrigal\\\\u2019s direction. The child died in utero when Hernandez was shot, killed and buried.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMadrigal also admitted in his plea agreement that the murders were committed while he was engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Court testimony revealed that Murillo and Hernandez had worked with Madrigal in the drug trafficking organization but had just informed Madrigal that they planned to cooperate with law enforcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the sentencing, the judge repeatedly described the murders as \\\\u201chorrific.\\\\u201d \\\\u201cSo horrific that they demand a significant sentence.\\\\u201d Although the Court agreed that Madrigal had a \\\\u201chorrible childhood\\\\u201d and needed money to assist his sisters with migrating from Mexico to the United States, \\\\u201cthe answer is not to do this.\\\\u201d Madrigal\\\\u2019s motivation to murder these victims was \\\\u201cwrong on every possible level.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMadrigal had months to think about his actions, the Court stated, and yet he remained in the drug trafficking business. The Court added that Madrigal and his co-conspirators \\\\u201cexecuted\\\\u201d Murillo, Hernandez and the fetus, so he could \\\\u201cstay in control\\\\u201d and continue to run his drug business. And Madrigal clearly profited from his involvement in drug dealing, driving fancy cars, using drugs, and overseeing a ranch in Yakima with a virtual arsenal of weapons. The Court noted that the murders were particularly troubling because Madrigal was involved in killing cooperating witnesses. The Court concluded by noting, \\\\u201cIt is very clear, the enormity of the stress and damage you have caused to the victims\\\\u2019 families.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhile here illegally, Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta chose a life of violence and greed,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, \\\\u201cThe victims\\\\u2019 families deserved this strong measure of justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s 40-year sentence holds Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta accountable for the brutal murders of Cesar Murillo, Maira Hernandez, and their unborn child,\\\\u201d said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. \\\\u201cThis case reflects the extraordinary persistence of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners to combat violent drug cartels, provide justice for victims and their families, and protect our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court filings, the investigation originated with the seizure of drugs from vehicles using San Diego area ports of entry between August and October of 2021. The organization built sophisticated compartments in high-end stolen vehicles to smuggle drugs through the ports of entry into the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta was a leader in the criminal enterprise. He coordinated the movements of the drug mules importing the drugs and worked to get the drugs up to Yakima for dispersal to other parts of the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta also coordinated the movement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash back to the drug trafficking organization in Mexico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBy August of 2022, the investigation led agents from San Diego up to Yakima. HSI Agents interviewed Murillo and Hernandez in August 2022. Within days of those interviews, Murillo and Hernandez were murdered and their bodies were buried in deep graves in the high desert. Court filings describe how these charges follow an exhaustive, year-long investigation that employed geophysicists, ground penetrating radar, aircraft, laser imaging, chemical testing of the soil, numerous cadaver dogs, and other law enforcement techniques to search for the victims\\\\u2019 remains. HSI Special Agents successfully recovered the remains on September 13, 2023, aided by a Washington State Police Crime Scene Investigations team.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation agents seized methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and multiple firearms \\\\u2014 including a machine gun \\\\u2014 from Madrigal\\\\u2019s drug trafficking organization.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of California.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EDEFENDANT\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;Case Number 23cr1684-DMS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBenjamin Madrigal-Birrueta\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 25\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Yakima, WA\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECount 4\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Murder of Cesar Armando Murillo in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy \\\\u2013 Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECount 5\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Murder of Maira Sophia Hernandez in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy \\\\u2013 Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECount 9\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Causing the Death of a Child in Utero \\\\u2013 Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1841 and 1111\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCIES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDrug Enforcement Administration\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWashington State Police\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECalifornia Highway Patrol\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYakima Police Department\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETulare County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVisalia Police Department\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFresno Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFresno Police Department\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T23:34:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789097661\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T19:55:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789084539\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"CAS26-0910-Madrigal\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal\\\\u2019s co-conspirators then buried the victim\\\\u2019s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal\\\\u2019s direction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Role in the Murders of a Couple and their Unborn Child During a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdca\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-40-years-role-murders-couple-and-their-unborn-child-during-drug\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"81d42ad7-8e40-4889-8b73-d07a03a29938\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ERIVERSIDE, California\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames Brass, 47, a.k.a. \\\\u201cLord,\\\\u201d of Victorville, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlso charged in the two-count indictment are two petition circulators who worked for Brass: Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAll three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price are charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\\\u201cThey allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row\\\\u2019s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is imperative that Americans have confidence in our voting system and election infrastructure\\\\u201d said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cThe scheme outlined in today\\\\u2019s indictment sought to undermine an essential pillar of our democracy and cause an undue burden on taxpayers. We will remain vigilant in detecting those trying to weaken our political process and we will aggressively investigate any allegations of voter fraud or other election crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, California\\\\u2019s constitution contains a process for direct democracy in which state voters can bypass the California State Legislature and enact laws or constitutional amendments directly through the ballot initiative process.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo qualify an initiative for inclusion on a ballot in 2026, an initiative\\\\u2019s proponent was required to submit 546,651 signatures to place a proposed statute on the ballot, and 874,641 signatures to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. An initiative\\\\u2019s proponent had up to 180 days to gather these signatures and needed to submit them no later than 130 days before the date of an election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGiven the large number of signatures required in such a short period of time, proponents of initiatives typically hired petition management companies to gather the signatures. These companies charge significant fees and set a price for each signature gathered, contracting with outside individuals to collect signatures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, Brass managed a team of signature collectors and collected signatures himself while Price and Herron were signature collectors who worked for Brass. From February 2026 to August 2026, the defendants used a database to identify registered California voters.\\\\u0026nbsp;On Skid Row, Brass and Price handed out these voters\\\\u2019 stolen identities and paid petition signers to copy the voters\\\\u2019 personal information onto ballot initiative petitions and fraudulently sign the petitions in those voters\\\\u2019 names.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter the petitions were signed, Brass and Herron signed declarations at the bottom of the petitions, falsely declaring under penalty of perjury that they personally witnessed the named registered voters sign the petitions and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, \\\\u201cthe genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrass and Herron then turned in the bogus petitions to several petition coordinators, knowing the false representations regarding the signatures\\\\u2019 authenticity would result in false and fraudulent signatures being counted in connection with the effort to place the initiative at issue on the ballot.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrass further knew the false representations about the signatures\\\\u2019 authenticity would result in payments to him from a petition management company.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn total, Brass received approximately $41,600 from coordinators working with one such petition management company.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe F\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nsessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\\\u2013 An Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E37, living in San Antonio, Texas,\\\\u0026nbsp;to 30 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Chagamreddy was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cElder fraud schemes are despicable, calculated attacks that prey on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community. In this case, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa used fear to deceive and extort a Vietnam veteran who served our country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. \\\\u201cBecause the victim came forward, and thanks to law enforcement\\\\u2019s coordinated, swift response and the efforts of AUSAs Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster, Chagamreddy was brought to justice. Our office remains committed to protecting older Americans from predatory fraud and ensuring foreign scammers who take advantage of their country\\\\u2019s immigration system are held fully accountable for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2025, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with \\\\u201cMicrosoft,\\\\u201d the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. Someone then contacted the victim and identified themselves as a federal officer, providing a false badge number.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being \\\\u201cinvestigated,\\\\u201d and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;The elderly victim was transferred to the \\\\u201cTreasury Department\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;and told he needed to transfer his money into gold and that an \\\\u201cofficer\\\\u201d would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed over the package.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA few days later, the fake federal officer contacted the victim again and demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. With the victim\\\\u0027s cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup. When Chagamreddy arrived at the victim\\\\u2019s home at the scheduled time and date, he was arrested. Evidence presented to the jury showed that he had $500 in cash, a cell phone, and 23 ounces of gold in\\\\u0026nbsp;the vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn agent testified about the messaging found on Chagamreddy\\\\u2019s phone. The exhibits shown to the jury clearly show he worked with another individual to defraud numerous victims within 48 hours. The agent testified that Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he picked up gold from an 87-year-old woman. Trial evidence showed that after delivering the gold to a different co-conspirator, Chagamreddy sent a photo of a dollar bill with \\\\u201c29 oz rec 3000 paid\\\\u201d written on it.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe messages indicate that the following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin, Texas, to Andale, Kansas, starting at 1:21 am. Throughout the drive, Chagamreddy would provide status updates, including screenshots of his location and fuel levels, to the co-conspirator. Upon arrival, Chagamreddy booked a hotel room to rest for a few hours and then drove to the destination he had been directed to. The co-conspirator described the 75-year-old woman from whom Chagamreddy would be picking up gold. Chagamreddy then sent the co-conspirator a photo of a sealed box with a message that read, \\\\u201c23 Oz.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter completing that trip, the agent testified that the messaging showed that Chagamreddy then drove to Delaware County, Oklahoma. The co-conspirator described the 79-year-old that he would be getting gold from and provided a photo of the victim, who was visibly wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt. The agent explained that the victim lived alone on a rural road and that Chagamreddy was actively providing photos, showing that he was lost. After finding the location, Chagamreddy provided one photo confirming that he arrived and was detained shortly after by Delaware County Sheriff\\\\u2019s deputies.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn 2025, the Department of Justice\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/elderjustice\\\\/media\\\\/1416301\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ereported\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;to Congress that it took more than 280 enforcement actions against more than 600 defendants, many of whom were in the United States illegally or were extradited to be prosecuted. Collectively, the defendants attempted to steal, or stole, over $2.3 billion from more than one million Americans. The Department pursued more than 40 types of elder fraud. Investment fraud ranked number one, with more than $1.8 billion in losses, followed by fraudulent tech support at $982 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Elder Justice Initiative\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/elderjustice\\\\/about-elder-abuse\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewebsite\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;provides several scenarios and red flags to help educate yourself and loved ones about the types of abuse, including financial exploitation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDelaware County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETo find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)\\\\u0026nbsp;10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday \\\\u2013 Friday. Elder Justice Neighborhood Resources for Oklahoma are available\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/elderjustice\\\\/support\\\\/resources-neighborhood?field_state=OK\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ehere\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:41:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072908\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:34:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072468\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Indian Citizen in the United States on Student Visa Sentenced for Defrauding a Vietnam Veteran\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Elder Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndok\\\\/pr\\\\/indian-citizen-united-states-student-visa-sentenced-defrauding-vietnam-veteran\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ba0d8869-9d09-4e0d-b49a-7e9cb1eb7e95\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\\\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cOur Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,\\\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp; On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, \\\\u201cdead serious,\\\\u201d and demanded \\\\u201cloose bills\\\\u201d in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10.\\\\u0026nbsp; The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee.\\\\u0026nbsp; In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later.\\\\u0026nbsp; After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s General Crimes Section.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPIERRE LEE\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge: 43\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EZebulon, NC\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067479\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067028\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\\\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/convicted-felon-found-guilty-using-firearm-during-brooklyn-attempted-bank-robbery\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"16b23235-1254-4110-b793-7eea839c1c66\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A member of the Manchester Chapter of the Trinitarios has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for racketeering charges, including his participation in the attempted murder of rival gang members.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSopita,\\\\u201d 28, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. After serving the prison sentence, Luis Enrique Santana will be deported to the Dominican Republic. \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/leader-manchester-chapter-trinitarios-pleads-guilty-racketeering-conspiracy\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn June 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Santana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. Luis Jeffrey Santana was arrested and charged in February 2025.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThe Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to coordinate and execute violence, and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana admitted to his participation in an August 2021 shooting outside of a department store in Salem, Mass. During this incident, Luis Jeffrey Santana and other Trinitarios members confronted two victims they believed to be rival gang members and engaged in a verbal altercation with them in the store. The Trinitarios and victims separated, exited the store and proceeded in different directions. The Trinitarios members, however, called for reinforcements who arrived shortly thereafter. The victims proceeded to their vehicle and as they turned out of the parking lot, a black sedan containing multiple Trinitarios pulled up and a shooter began firing multiple rounds at the victims. At the same time, a second vehicle pulled out and blocked traffic while the shooting took place.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ELuis Jeffrey Santana was also one of the leaders who convened a gang meeting in Dec. 1, 2024. During the recorded meeting, the Trinitarios discussed the reorganization and restructuring of the Trinitarios chapters, including the need for members to pay dues and contribute to the gang\\\\u2019s operations. The leaders discussed the need to have money on hand to help members who commit shootings and to fund a war against rival gang members. They also discussed the potential violence that would be visited upon members who betray the gang.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EDuring the plea hearing in June 2026, Luis Jeffrey Santana admitted to his membership in the gang. Photographs and videos recovered in the investigation showed Luis Jeffrey Santana wearing Trinitarios beaded necklaces, making Trinitarios gang signs with his hands and associating with other members and leaders.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EIn \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/nearly-two-dozen-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-state-leader-charged\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multijurisdictional investigation, which began in the aftermath of four murders as well as a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. On \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-trinitarios-gang-members-charged-rico-conspiracy-related-five-murders-after\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJune 9, 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, additional federal racketeering and drug charges were unsealed charging 26 additional leaders, members and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill and Boston Chapters of the gang. According to court documents, the Trinitarios have allegedly participated in five additional murders in Essex County since 2017, bringing the total of federally charged murders to 11, and the total number of federally charged defendants to 56.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler; Methuen Police Acting Chief Jamie Moore, and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/OCDETF\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOrganized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;and \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/PSN\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 style=\\\\u0022width:661px;\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E#\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFIRST NAME\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAST NAME\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDOCKET NO.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECASE STATUS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERicardo\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EBratini-Perez\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E24-CR-10310\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty,\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/trinitarios-gang-member-sentenced-10-years-prison\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESentenced\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to 120 Months\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E2\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERosnel\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPolanco\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E24-CR-10263\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty,\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAwaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E3\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEric\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERosario\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:113px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E24-CR-10263\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:236px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPleaded Guilty,\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAwaiting Sentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:66px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E4\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:110px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERobert\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:136px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESantana\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd 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Cambar\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0040 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01JYSYh33ExQr89QGVPfUzJr

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01JYSYh33ExQr89QGVPfUzJr", "elapsed": 4.246140234, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":2},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.2491989135742188},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for using information stolen from physicians to fraudulently write opioid prescriptions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently caused prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances to be issued under the names of real medical providers and often in the names of nominal patients, neither of whom knew the prescriptions were being written.\\\\u0026nbsp;Ibrahim or others involved in the scheme would then pick up the prescriptions at Chicago-area pharmacies and work to distribute the drugs on the streets.\\\\u0026nbsp; Ibrahim was not a licensed physician and could not lawfully prescribe medications.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFrom 2022 to 2025, Ibrahim was responsible for the unlawful distribution of 149,152 dosage units of oxycodone, 41,853 dosage units of hydrocodone, 30,517 dosage units of alprazolam, 22,625 dosage units of promethazine-codeine syrup, and 6,990 dosage units of amphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;Ibrahim also financially benefited from the scheme, resulting in the forfeiture of $200,800 in illicit proceeds that was seized from her residence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIbrahim, 48, of Palos Hills, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug conspiracy charge.\\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Ibrahim to five years in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge\\\\u0026nbsp;of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Drug Enforcement Administration.\\\\u0026nbsp; The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFour other defendants were also convicted as part of the federal investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:22:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071739\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:21:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789071662\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAMANI IBRAHIM fraudulently prescribed oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Writing Opioid Prescriptions\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d13d6b86-209f-460e-878e-b4dd44f9435f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Prescription Drugs\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/woman-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-fraudulently-writing-opioid-prescriptions\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"482a01db-56d5-4a8d-8cbe-2f188575b641\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeattle \\\\u2013 Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Emily Vranic, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison; her co-defendant, Heather Marquis, 37, was sentenced to 31 months. Both women were sentenced to three years of supervised release following their release from custody. The two were arrested on a federal complaint in April 2025. At the sentencing hearing for Vranic, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted that the pair engaged in what she described as a \\\\u201cmulti-dimensional, deliberate effort to defraud many people in many different ways.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese defendants attempted to steal at least $330,000 from their victims over a three-year period \\\\u2013 ID theft and bank fraud was their \\\\u2018job\\\\u2019 and for at least 15 victims they were all too successful,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. \\\\u201cBeyond the financial harm, these defendants stole important records:\\\\u0026nbsp;tax returns; social security cards; retirement account information; divorce filings; immunization paperwork; immigration records; and military records. And each document theft was an invasion of privacy causing harm to the victim.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese two defendants made it their life\\\\u2019s work to lie, cheat, and defraud their very own community. Using every tool at their disposal to illicitly open accounts, redirect funds, and even paying their own mortgage while victims footed the bill.\\\\u201d said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti, \\\\u201cFinancial crimes of this nature inflict severe, long-term damage, forcing victims down a protracted road to recovery. Beyond the immediate financial loss, victims face the exhausting burden of closing fraudulent accounts and correcting damaged credit scores. While financial institutions may eventually reimburse stolen funds, they cannot restore the extensive time and energy required to repair the broader collateral damage.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to records filed in the case, from approximately 2021 until their arrests in November 2024, Vranic and Marquis defrauded victims and financial institutions in several different ways. Most often, they stole victims\\\\u2019 mail and used personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim\\\\u2019s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EArmed with their victims\\\\u2019 identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make monthly mortgage payments on the home they shared. One vulnerable victim was targeted with over $110,000 in fraudulent transfers; but for the bank\\\\u2019s intervention, that number would have been in excess of $170,000. Even when banks interceded to protect their customers by freezing targeted accounts, Vranic and Marquis repeatedly posed as account holders to try to get the fraud alerts removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn asking for a three-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore noted that though both women suffered from drug addiction, that did not affect the complexity of their frauds. \\\\u201cThis scheme nonetheless required an extraordinary amount of organization, planning, and executive functioning skills. Marquis and Vranic kept records of every individual, every account, every piece of personal information that would ensure their scheme\\\\u2019s success. The variety of methods the women employed to steal from their victims was nothing short of labyrinthine to unravel.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis has agreed to a restitution obligation of $102,784 to the victims. Vranic will have a restitution hearing in October 2026 to determine the amount she owes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T18:01:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789077674\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2f637ac-6743-4ff2-95ed-b078f601ea82\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Washington, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:58:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789077528\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeattle \\\\u2013 Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Bremerton, Washington couple sentenced to prison for wide-ranging ID theft and bank fraud crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdwa\\\\/pr\\\\/bremerton-washington-couple-sentenced-prison-wide-ranging-id-theft-and-bank-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dd2caca9-29f5-4b41-a518-0774d9acc7b3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cKnowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol\\\\u2011whipping her,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. \\\\u201cThis defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as \\\\u201cboot.\\\\u201d A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol under a car.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. \\\\u0026nbsp;During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight\\\\u2019s pants.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\\\u2013 Washington Field Division.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460911\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_1.png?itok=Ho1RXseT\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022390\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022372\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Suspect standing in front of library\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460916\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_2.png?itok=dVfmGU-F\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022506\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022378\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;The loaded 9mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson M\\\\u0026amp;P pistol found in Knight\\\\u2019s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460921\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/jknight_3.png?itok=CCRxsnuD\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022418\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022434\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EThe 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr21\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067497\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066703\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460911\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a41a8c09-34a8-4f3c-aec3-e79de1c1e405\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Suspect standing in front of library\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460916\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aeda6d44-6423-47e9-b74b-6b22370001cd\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black gun on top of camouflage backpack\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460921\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8957d818-1095-461f-88e1-57ce50e37567\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Black pistol and clip laying on table\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/repeat-felon-sentenced-10-years-dc-after-shooting-two-women-separate-attacks-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b9c0e10b-5957-4a8b-9d7f-a74c4aa89716\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\\\u2013 An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins\\\\u2019s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins\\\\u2019s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:33:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072382\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:32:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072330\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-sentenced-prison-illegally-possessing-multiple-firearms-and-violating-supervised\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"88a1ab96-5381-4866-896e-5b479658f090\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T15:15:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789067733\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066782\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\\\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/atoka-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe violent actions of this defendant directly threatened the safety of everyday travelers and the dedicated personnel who work tirelessly to secure our nation\\\\u0027s airways,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cPhysical assault against our TSA and local law enforcement partners will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. Our office remains steadfastly committed to ensuring our transit hubs remain safe and secure, and we will continue to hold accountable anyone who compromises public safety through violence.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTSA officers perform a vital public safety mission every day, and assaults against them are unacceptable,\\\\u201d said TSA Administrator David P. Cummins. \\\\u201cI commend the TSA officers at Harry Reid International Airport, along with TSA Investigations and our law enforcement partners, for their professionalism and quick response in protecting the checkpoint and the traveling public. TSA will continue to work closely with local law enforcement and the criminal justice system to ensure individuals who attempt to compromise airport security or assault our employees are held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on November 3, 2025, Jhon Raul Vizcaino Ramirez presented a TSA screening officer a boarding pass in the name of another person and attempted to enter the passenger boarding area. After Vizcaino Ramirez refused to provide his identification, the TSA officer would not return the boarding to Vizcaino Ramirez and Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted that officer. Officers attempted to detain Ramirez, but he resisted arrest. During the altercation, Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted two TSA officers and two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers who were assisting TSA. One officer sustained an injury that required surgery.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVizcaino Ramirez pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with security screening personnel; two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding person assisting certain officers or employees; and one count of entry by false pretenses to secure area of any airport.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by TSA Investigations with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:23:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789075409\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:55:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062915\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Cuban National Sentenced for Assaulting Transportation Security Officers and Local Law Enforcement Officers at Airport\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/cuban-national-sentenced-assaulting-transportation-security-officers-and-local-law\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e271ca56-97c4-4ddb-9b06-045025007311\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cThe Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots and that every lawful vote is counted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChaudhari is charged with one count of false information in voting, in violation of 52 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 21144(b), incorporating 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 1015(f), and one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote or vote, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 1015(f). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fillmore County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorneys Flavio Abreu and William Rubens of the Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:31:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789075917\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8d2ebf48-338b-4dce-af99-12ff73198db7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights - Criminal Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:28:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789075730\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1043\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Voting and Elections\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/indian-national-charged-making-false-claim-us-citizenship-vote-2024-election\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"61ae4bed-9d5b-41af-9748-0e5ff9018ab6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharge(s)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentence\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJose Buval, 35, Seymour\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) \\\\u0026amp; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E19 years, 2 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine \\\\u0026amp; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EBrandon Bowman, 32, Seymour\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMaking a false statement during the purchase of a firearm \\\\u0026amp; Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJames McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E4 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERobert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E5 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E13 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir\\\\u2019s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOver the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department, Hamilton\\\\/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,\\\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cArmed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,\\\\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \\\\u201cHSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,\\\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\\\u201cOur special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We\\\\u2019re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,\\\\u201d said Greg O\\\\u2019Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. \\\\u201cWithout these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn\\\\u2019t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese prosecutions\\\\u0026nbsp;are\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the\\\\u0026nbsp;Southern District of Indiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789056571\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:03:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789056236\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/seven-including-el-salvadoran-national-sentenced-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3e2d31d9-f117-4adc-8e20-fe728d6fa189\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to reports, on or about August 18, 2026, West was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of approximately thirty-seven pounds of a substance which appeared to be cocaine. Presumptive testing yielded positive results for cocaine which would have an estimated street value of around $400,000. Additionally, West was also found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm pistol.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney April Leon leads the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789052959\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789052811\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"BATON ROUGE MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF COCAINE \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdla\\\\/pr\\\\/baton-rouge-man-indicted-possessing-intent-distribute-approximately-thirty-seven\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"04d01bed-b584-457b-bdc2-8d12fff2b785\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECAPE GIRARDEAU \\\\u2013 A Southeast Missouri man who recorded his sexual abuse of children was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELantz D. Crawford, 26, of Ripley County, near Doniphan, recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2, 4, 5, 6 and 6, between the summer of 2024 and late 2025. In December of 2025, the mother of the 4-year-old girl contacted the Ripley County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office after her daughter reported the abuse. Crawford\\\\u2019s phone was seized and investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting young children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis is one of the worst cases involving crimes against children I\\\\u2019ve encountered in my 23 years with the FBI, period. The abhorrent sexual abuse inflicted on these five preschool-aged children is beyond the pale,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. \\\\u201cLantz Crawford deliberately positioned himself to gain access to vulnerable children. He exploited the trust of single mothers who believed he was offering a helping hand, volunteering to watch their children or drive them places, when in reality, he was creating opportunities to prey upon them.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECrawford pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to five counts of production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Ripley County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:56:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062970\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:47:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062471\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELantz D. Crawford recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2-6.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Southeast Missouri Man Who Victimized Children Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/southeast-missouri-man-who-victimized-children-sentenced-40-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75aa6a63-208a-4882-b7a8-c6c0cf6760b6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on December 19, 2024, BPD officers arrived at a building to assist BCPD detectives with executing an arrest warrant on Toliver. The warrant was in connection with a November 2024 shooting.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBCPD detectives located Toliver sitting in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a parked vehicle. Law enforcement ordered Toliver out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest. As law enforcement searched Toliver, officers discovered oxycodone, cocaine base, and cocaine on him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter towing the vehicle to BCPD Headquarters, law enforcement uncovered a loaded handgun with seven live rounds of ammunition under the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Toliver is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions. Additionally, investigators found $3,604.17, along with a large amount of Toliver\\\\u2019s clothing in the vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BCPD, and BPD for their work in the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T18:31:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789165884\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:06:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789070769\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for firearm crimes. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerry Toliver, 37, of Rosedale, today, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-felon-sentenced-illegal-firearm-possession-hstf-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dc3d302b-0a29-48eb-ac72-65b5354d06b4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELAFAYETTE \\\\u2013 On September 9, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKatherine Albarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 32, of Morgan City, to 60 months in federal prison for attempted possession of child pornography. \\\\u0026nbsp;Albarado had previously pled guilty to the charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPredators\\\\u2014and especially people in positions of trust\\\\u2014who abuse our children have nowhere to hide in this District,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. \\\\u201cWe urge parents to remain vigilant and aware of their children\\\\u2019s digital and online communications, and this Office, along with our state and federal partners, will continue to investigate and prosecute those who exploit children for perverse, sexual purposes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in May 2022, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlbarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was employed as a teacher at Morgan City High School. During this period, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlbarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E used a personal email account to initiate and continue email communications with a student whom \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlbarado\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E knew to be 16 years old. The messages were aimed at enticing the student into illegal sexual contact. They were extremely graphic and included a request for the minor victim to send sexually explicit images of himself to her.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Morgan City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. \\\\u0026nbsp;Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more \\\\u0026nbsp;at \\\\u0026nbsp;https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/about-project-safe-childhood.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EYou may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https:\\\\/\\\\/www.lawd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00355-01.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONTACT:\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EPublic Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office: www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EX: @USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EFacebook: USAO_WDLA\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E(337) 262-6704\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:08:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789056497\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7134f95-28b2-4b7e-95c9-a49fa5dfd6e2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:58:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055890\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Morgan City Teacher Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Enticing Student via Email\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdla\\\\/pr\\\\/former-morgan-city-teacher-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-sexually-enticing\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0015b9fc-76a9-4961-ac2c-21c7f58a2b8f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460856\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f86832b-1bb8-4118-948d-cb2002398d18\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDomp\\\\u00e9 U.S. Inc. (Domp\\\\u00e9), based in California, has \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/media\\\\/1460856\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eagreed\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis settlement demonstrates the United States\\\\u2019 commitment to enforcing the Anti-Kickback Statute and ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers do not use unlawful inducements,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Division. \\\\u201cThe Department encourages companies that uncover improper kickbacks to self-disclose such conduct.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cKickbacks to beneficiaries undermine the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and drive up the cost of drugs,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. \\\\u201cMy Office has recovered over $1.4 billion for taxpayers through settlements and enforcement actions concerning drug company kickbacks to purported charities, and we will continue to pursue these matters to ensure that all drug companies play by the rules and to protect federal taxpayer funded healthcare programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPharmaceutical manufacturers that attempt to disguise kickbacks as charitable patient assistance are engaging in blatant misconduct which corrupts medical decision\\\\u2011making and drains federal health care programs,\\\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\\\u201cDomp\\\\u00e9\\\\u2019s actions undermined critical safeguards Congress put in place to protect Medicare, driving up costs for taxpayers while exploiting patients. HHS-OIG does not tolerate such conduct and will continue to work tirelessly for justice and accountability.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively \\\\u201cco-pays\\\\u201d). Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical manufacturer is prohibited from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration \\\\u2013 which includes money or any other thing of value \\\\u2013 to induce Medicare patients to purchase the company\\\\u2019s drugs. This prohibition extends to the payment of patients\\\\u2019 co-pay obligations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the settlement, Domp\\\\u00e9 admitted that, around the time of Oxervate\\\\u2019s 2018 launch in the United States, Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. employees expressed reservations about launching the drug before making a payment to a patient assistance foundation that paid the co-pays for Oxervate. After conversations with Domp\\\\u00e9 employees, two foundations opened funds that, among other things, paid co-pays for Oxervate, and Domp\\\\u00e9 made contributions to those foundations. Domp\\\\u00e9 also solicited patient assistance foundation data directly from the foundations, and from the specialty pharmacy that provided hub services to Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. patients. This data was provided, directly or indirectly, to certain individuals involved in the patient assistance foundation budgeting process.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDomp\\\\u00e9 is the U.S. subsidiary of Domp\\\\u00e9 farmaceutici S.p.A., a pharmaceutical company incorporated in Italy. Domp\\\\u00e9 farmaceutici self-disclosed this conduct to the United States. Following the disclosure, both Domp\\\\u00e9 farmaceutici and Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department\\\\u2019s guidelines for taking self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Department of Health and Human Services\\\\u2019 Office of Inspector General.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government\\\\u2019s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration\\\\u2019s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division\\\\u2019s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division\\\\u2019s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:45:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789058734\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:52:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055520\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1037\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDomp\\\\u00e9 U.S. Inc. (Domp\\\\u00e9), based in California, has \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/media\\\\/1460856\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eagreed\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Domp\\\\u00e9 U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"87816596-1bad-44b8-b138-df98755a6895\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"False Claims Act\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/dompe-us-agrees-pay-32m-resolve-false-claims-act-liability-relating-self-disclosure-patient\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4b5968c1-9589-4c0e-8aa4-c7f1c95929c9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013 United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\\\u201cDutch\\\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit\\\\u0026nbsp;the proceeds traceable to the offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment,\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies\\\\u2019 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees\\\\u2019 paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee\\\\u2019s paychecks to the company\\\\u2019s health insurance plan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is\\\\u0026nbsp;presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Labor \\\\u2013 Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation \\\\u2013 Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:06:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789059976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:50:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789059024\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013 United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\\\u201cDutch\\\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees\\\\u2019 Benefit Plans\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"db552d61-470f-4192-905a-daa9f2432448\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\\\/news-and-media\\\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eon separate\\\\u0026nbsp;charges\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789074774\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789074559\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Asset Forfeiture\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victorino Javier Cruz-Lopez, age 40,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Mexico, was sentenced to 15 months in prison by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for illegal reentry. Cruz-Lopez will be deported upon conclusion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller,\\\\u0026nbsp;Cruz-Lopez\\\\u0026nbsp;was encountered in the United States in York County on April 16, 2026, after having previously been removed in 2013.\\\\u0026nbsp;Cruz-Lopez\\\\u0026nbsp;did not receive permission to reenter the United States, as required by law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:50:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055444\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:49:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789055395\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces Deportation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-15-months-prison-illegal-reentry-faces-deportation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3af284d7-6eb7-452b-a66a-147ded705df6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A Gallup man pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, in the early morning hours of April 6, 2025, a shooting occurred at a Church Rock, New Mexico residence. A resident of the home awoke to gunshots and, along with a second resident, entered 16-year-old Jane Doe\\\\u2019s bedroom, where the residents discovered 18-year-old John Doe deceased on the floor, Jane Doe suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMario Israel Barraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 19\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, at approximately 3:30 a.m., \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E arrived at Jane Doe\\\\u2019s residence and approached Jane Doe\\\\u2019s bedroom window. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E knew the window was sometimes left unlocked because he had previously entered the home through the window when visiting Jane Doe at night. When \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E opened the window, he encountered John Doe, whom he had never met.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe two began fighting through the window, and during the altercation a handgun was introduced. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E gained possession of the handgun and fired at least 11 gunshots into the bedroom. Most of the shots struck John Doe; Jane Doe, who was directly behind John Doe, was also hit by gunfire.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E fled the scene immediately after the shooting, drove home, and disposed of the handgun in an open field. He later provided his attorneys with the location of the handgun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJane Doe and John Doe are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBarraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, he faces up to life in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789053623\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T11:19:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789053563\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-264\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMario Israel Barraza\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gallup Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Fatal Shooting\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/gallup-man-pleads-guilty-charges-fatal-shooting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"458918f9-8a05-4a16-9277-246ca66a5c51\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChristopher McInturf, 56, of Newark, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the crimes in February.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca class=\\\\u0022ck-anchor\\\\u0022 id=\\\\u0022_Hlk223007491\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in February 2025, the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center referred an investigative lead regarding McInturf using CashApp to pay for child pornography. Further investigation revealed that McInturf met an individual online who he believed to be in Paraguay. McInturf would pay the person typically $80 or $86 for bundles of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 2025, McInturf messaged the individual asking for \\\\u201csomething new? Rape is good. 10 to 15 yr\\\\u2026\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInvestigators discovered child sexual abuse material of prepubescent female victims on McInturf\\\\u2019s digital devices. For example, one video was a 70-minute compilation of 55 children being sexually assaulted who were approximately two to 10 years old.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn a thumb drive, McInturf had an explicit photo of a minor previously identified as the victim in a case against the defendant in Licking County. McInturf was convicted in 2011 in Licking County of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in his local case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcInturf was charged federally in February 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:26:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789057597\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:24:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789057475\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Repeat sex offender from Licking County sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for new child pornography crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/repeat-sex-offender-licking-county-sentenced-more-19-years-federal-prison-new-child\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3dbb15f0-5a3c-4a59-84f6-cf67b5433311\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENORFOLK, Va. \\\\u2013 A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in April, May and June of 2025, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Andre Lawrence Shorts, 35. After a fourth transaction was arranged, law enforcement arrested Shorts a short distance from his residence. From Shorts\\\\u2019 vehicle, investigators recovered 199.45 grams of cocaine, 7.25 grams of methamphetamine, 11 methamphetamine tablets, 47 amphetamine tablets, three capsules containing a heroin\\\\/fentanyl mixture, baggies, a scale, two cell phones, $546, and a stolen handgun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFrom Shorts\\\\u2019 residence, investigators recovered 251.97 grams of cocaine and $1,030. After Shorts was turned over to the Virginia Beach Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office for booking, a deputy discovered another 27.68 grams of cocaine concealed in a body cavity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-42.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:09:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789060192\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:09:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789060178\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndre Lawrence Shorts, 35, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Virginia Beach cocaine dealer sentenced to eight years in prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/virginia-beach-cocaine-dealer-sentenced-eight-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"50bd3c99-e5a9-49aa-b0cd-41e7098bc6ec\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789048448\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - S\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nt are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:06:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789063603\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Carolina\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:01:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789063278\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sc\\\\/pr\\\\/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56e7b3ab-5021-464e-a77c-d6c6bd3d03d1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAll six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver\\\\u2019s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJENAY DAVIS (\\\\u201cDAVIS\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECHRISTOPHER BRYAN BURNS (\\\\u201cBURNS\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESHAKERA MILLIEN (\\\\u201cMILLIEN\\\\u201d) \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epleaded guilty on September 9, 2026. The other defendants\\\\u2014\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMAHMOUD ALHATTAB (\\\\u201cALHATTAB\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJONATHAN PARSONS (\\\\u201cPARSONS\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMARLINE ROBERTS (\\\\u201cROBERTS\\\\u201d)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epleaded guilty on July 29, 2026. All six defendants appeared before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, a restaurant owner, led a scheme in which Commercial Driver\\\\u2019s License (\\\\u201cCDL\\\\u201d) applicants paid him an average of $5,000 to obtain unearned\\\\u0026nbsp;CDLs. The scheme enabled applicants to bypass all three\\\\u0026nbsp;main federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process: the knowledge test, entry-level driver training, and the skills test.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe commercial transportation industry is a vital component of this nation\\\\u2019s economy. As a result, the competency and fitness of commercial drivers to safely and knowledgeably operate those vehicles on our streets and highways, is vital to the welfare of all the other drivers in our communities,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana David I. Courcelle. \\\\u201cSolely to satisfy their own greed, the perpetrators of this sweeping fraudulent scheme callously endangered the lives of other drivers by allowing commercial drivers, who were woefully unprepared to safely navigate travel hazards, to operate on America\\\\u2019s roadways.\\\\u0026nbsp; However, today\\\\u2019s convictions demonstrate the combined mission of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General\\\\u2019s Southern Region, to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes and to keep American roads safe for commuters.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEvery defendant in this case was willing to endanger the motoring public by giving unqualified people authorization to operate commercial vehicles,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\\\u201cOur partners at the DOT-OIG, Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles, and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General helped us build a strong case for prosecutors. We thank the U.S. Attorney\\\\u0027s Office for their unwavering support in our fight against dangerous fraud.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe convictions announced today underscore the grave danger posed by schemes that undermine the integrity of the commercial driver\\\\u2019s licensing process. Deliberately circumventing federally mandated safety requirements is not only unlawful\\\\u2014it puts everyone on our nation\\\\u2019s roadways at risk,\\\\u201d stated Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General\\\\u2019s Southern Region. \\\\u201cWe will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively investigate these schemes, dismantle them, and hold accountable those who put the traveling public at risk for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe knowledge test, administered at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), is a written examination covering vehicle safety systems, emergency\\\\u0026nbsp;situations,\\\\u0026nbsp;procedures for various\\\\u0026nbsp;maneuvers, and extreme driving conditions. Passing this test results in the issuance of a commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit, which is required before an applicant can proceed to training and the skills test.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo bypass the knowledge test, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E bribed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, employees at the Donaldsonville, Louisiana OMV office. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E typically sent \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E a photograph of an applicant\\\\u2019s driver\\\\u2019s license via cell phone, along with any requested endorsements, such as a school bus endorsement. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E then completed the applicant\\\\u2019s knowledge test. They used their cell phones to conduct online research to answer test questions. For example, one on occasion, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E visited webpages on brake\\\\u0026nbsp;inspection, vehicle fires, hazardous materials,\\\\u0026nbsp;and how to stop a skidding trailer. Similarly, on one occasion, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E conducted online\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Esearches for\\\\u0026nbsp;emergency-controlled\\\\u0026nbsp;braking, hydraulic brake failure, and pre-trip\\\\u0026nbsp;vehicle inspections.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E falsified the test results, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E would bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office, where \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E issued a commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit based on the fraudulent scores.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E allowed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E to bring applicants into the OMV office through a non-public side door and permitted him access to non-public areas. On some occasions, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E even went behind the counter and operated the OMV camera to take applicants\\\\u2019 photographs for the permits. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E paid \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E in cash and provided them with meals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter passing the knowledge test and obtaining a commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit, most CDL applicants are required to complete entry\\\\u2011level driver training, which includes demonstrating proficiency in operating a commercial vehicle on public roads.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo bypass the training requirement, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E bribed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, each of whom operated a truck\\\\u2011driver training business. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E typically sent \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E a photograph of an applicant\\\\u2019s commercial learner\\\\u2019s permit via cell phone, thereby providing the information to create false training records. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, in exchange for payments from \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, reported in a federal database that applicants successfully completed training when, in fact, no training occurred.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe final major step in the CDL process is the skills test, administered by state\\\\u2011authorized examiners who\\\\u0026nbsp;are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Federal regulations require the skills test to include a pre\\\\u2011trip vehicle inspection, vehicle control\\\\u0026nbsp;skills, and safety\\\\u2011related on\\\\u2011road driving\\\\u0026nbsp;skills.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo defeat the skills test requirement, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E again bribed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who, in addition to being trainers, were certified by Louisiana to administer the test. They falsely reported to the State that applicants passed the skills test when the applicants had not taken it. Early in the scheme, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E would pose as an applicant and drive the test vehicle to make it appear that \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was conducting a legitimate test. Eventually, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E concluded that such precautions were unnecessary, and thereafter \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E routinely entered fraudulent test results with neither \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E nor the applicant present. On some occasions, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E paid another examiner, defendant \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EROBERTS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, to assist by creating fake score sheets to support \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s fraudulent test entries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter an applicant received false skills test scores, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E typically alerted \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that the applicant would be returning to the OMV office to obtain the CDL. Because many applicants were not proficient in English, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E sometimes informed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E of the language barrier. For example, on one occasion he texted \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that an applicant\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cis\\\\u0026nbsp;outside [the OMV office] to get his CDL\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cNo English,\\\\u201d meaning the applicant did not speak English.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, who had been in the scheme for years, met with \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E at \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E restaurant to discuss \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E joining. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E initially agreed to compensation of $400 per fraudulent skills test entry. However, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E later complained that the amount was too low, texting \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that this was why \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u201conly agreed to 3 or 4 [false skills test entries] per week.\\\\u201d \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E then agreed to increase \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s payment to $500 per entry and to assign \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E more\\\\u0026nbsp;skills tests to enter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo conceal the scheme, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E occasionally rescheduled purported skills tests to avoid the appearance that applicants tested in bad weather. For example, in February 2021, when asked whether an applicant was \\\\u201cgood to go\\\\u201d to the OMV, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E who\\\\u0026nbsp;replied, \\\\u201cNaw, we couldn\\\\u2019t do any testing\\\\u0026nbsp;today because of the\\\\u0026nbsp;frozen roads\\\\u0026nbsp;up here. I couldn\\\\u2019t pass him, it\\\\u0026nbsp;wouldn\\\\u2019t look right.\\\\u201d Similarly, in December 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u201cI had\\\\u0026nbsp;to cancel test\\\\u0026nbsp;today. Raining bad. Will reset Tuesday.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EText messages showed a desire to increase the volume of applicants. For example, in January 2021, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E told \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E that he had approximately 20 individuals seeking CDLs and that \\\\u201c[t]his year it will be a good year,\\\\u201d to which \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E replied, \\\\u201cHeck yeah\\\\u201d; \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u201cI have to[o] many\\\\u201d applicants to which \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;replied, \\\\u201cThat\\\\u0027s a good thing\\\\u201d; and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E texted, \\\\u201cKeep them coming!\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;to which \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E replied, \\\\u201cWill do.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;Similarly, in December 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E discussed targeting out\\\\u2011of\\\\u2011state applicants, whom they believed would pay more. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Etexted, \\\\u201cMy original plan funnel people from Texas and Florida\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cGet it set up and we roll\\\\u201d; \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Ereplied, \\\\u201cthe door is open now to Texas the guy you did has over 15 guys they have permit\\\\u201d; and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Etexted, \\\\u201cSweet!\\\\u201d; \\\\u201cline em up\\\\u201d and \\\\u201csend some to\\\\u0026nbsp;[\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E]\\\\u0026nbsp;so we spread it around.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom August 2020 through February 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E caused at least 124 people to fraudulently receive CDLs. During that time, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E issued at least 108 commercial learner\\\\u2019s permits in exchange for payments from \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E. Also, during that period, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E caused at least 118\\\\u0026nbsp;people to\\\\u0026nbsp;fraudulently\\\\u0026nbsp;receive CDLs by\\\\u0026nbsp;providing each person with a false training\\\\u0026nbsp;entry, or a false skills test\\\\u0026nbsp;entry, or both. In early 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EROBERTS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E created false score sheets for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E on seven occasions.\\\\u0026nbsp;From August 2023 through January 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E caused at least 18 people to obtain fraudulent CDLs by\\\\u0026nbsp;providing each person with a false skills test\\\\u0026nbsp;entry, and, for some of them, also providing false training entries. From March 2023 through February 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E issued at least 14 commercial learner\\\\u2019s permits in exchange for payments from \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe six defendants each pleaded guilty to Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, which is punishable by up to 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for October 28, 2026, for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALHATTAB\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPARSONS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EROBERTS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E; for December 2, 2026, for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDAVIS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E; and December 9, 2026, for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBURNS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMILLIEN\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General investigated\\\\u0026nbsp;this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle thanked the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Public Safety Services for their valuable assistance in the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is\\\\u0026nbsp;in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:21:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789064467\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:58:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789063083\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAll six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver\\\\u2019s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Defendants Convicted for Scheme Enabling More Than 100 Drivers, Many Not Proficient in English, to Fraudulently Obtain Commercial Driver\\\\u2019s Licenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/defendants-convicted-scheme-enabling-more-100-drivers-many-not-proficient-english\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7446df0c-4e85-4b05-b471-47cab5e92a5a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDES MOINES, Iowa \\\\u2013 Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between March 2025 and September 11, 2025, the charged defendants obtained and distributed methamphetamine within Des Moines and elsewhere. The more than six-month investigation included controlled purchases of methamphetamine and concluded with the execution of more than 50 search warrants on September\\\\u0026nbsp;11, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants involved in this conspiracy include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e72ad587066074cfc5f18f4e1319f354c\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECole Anthony Langford, 42, sentenced to a 30-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6e7dc1cb2d5cf332c92ee13d53252695\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKenneth Donald Stockman, 44, sentenced to a 12-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2c3b4e84318e5bc5b81df0090f1d83a0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJoshua Andrew Rankin, 38, sentenced to a 200-month prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3fea26103efc6dcc9a777142b5f6e3be\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJames \\\\u201cJimmy\\\\u201d Stephen Waters Jr., 61, sentenced to a 78\\\\u2011month prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ea42672fbe68852841354d7fb92c6c751\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETodd Allen Miller Jr., 32, sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e164a8f924d0abe3995985192b2a061aa\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESamantha Sue Baldridge, 34, sentenced to a six-year prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e7fd659d00b27d8372a4e9c85c7c0abd6\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESimon Anaya Sanchez, 50, sentenced to a 190-month prison term, followed by a six-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1209269e6323dfbef62f29f7ba0c13b0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJason Lee Baxter-Blakely, 38, sentenced to a 100-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb81a10a45636289160ef3aa9d5b0dcc1\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJessica Renae Gleason, 43, sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; and\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0a83029063ff54251cba58f203325152\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESara Ann Bowers, 40, of Des Moines, sentenced to a 10-year prison term, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time they conspired to distribute methamphetamine:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6547471e6ee301002d234234f988b20f\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELangford was on absconder status for state eluding and drug trafficking offenses, following his parole from state custody after serving less than one year of his sentences.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1dd5b7e4348e875bbf6ed77b73e27bbf\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERankin was on absconder status for two state drug trafficking offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2c9b4a9ea231ce83c1571fb38e97f904\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMiller was on parole for three state drug trafficking offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb06ee9497f7eb15b0459880814e2f0d7\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESanchez had a prior federal drug conviction from the Southern District of Iowa and had been discharged from supervised release in 2021.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e446be7625f918efa3b1a87bd82f91403\\\\u0022\\\\u003EGleason was on parole for a state drug trafficking offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Marshall County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Marshalltown Police Department, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Tri-County Drug Task Force, and dozens of others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:49:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152555\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T14:40:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789152040\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1789041600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDES MOINES, Iowa \\\\u2013 Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"10 Des Moines Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdia\\\\/pr\\\\/10-des-moines-individuals-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"96173b36-b1ae-4c74-a4fd-239b0a53435c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Adam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThrough his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the United States Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence underscores that we always stand ready\\\\u2014even years later and on the other side of an ocean\\\\u2014to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAdam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,\\\\u2\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0043 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01QSKyLArumuiHXmBAeodwz8

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01QSKyLArumuiHXmBAeodwz8", "elapsed": 4.658143912, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":50,\\\"page\\\":3},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.3376498222351074},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Butler, Mo., man has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECraig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr. to multiple federal charges. This plea is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, Johnson was hired at Community First Bank in 2022 as a Vice President and Loan Officer. While Johnson was employed with Community First Bank, Johnson was also a pastor with\\\\u0026nbsp;a church in El Dorado Springs, Mo. until he was removed in 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in at least 2024, Johnson began to request \\\\u201cinvestments\\\\u201d from various individuals for the purpose of buying cattle which would be later sold for profit. The deal varied from person to person but involved Johnson purchasing cattle and selling the cattle for a profit within a short time frame. Johnson told individuals he needed help investing and requested they pay him funds. Johnson worked with some of the \\\\u201cinvestors\\\\u201d to take out a loan at Community\\\\u0026nbsp;First Bank through Johnson and give the proceeds to Johnson. Johnson did not tell anyone at Community First Bank that he was benefiting from the loan proceeds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJohnson did\\\\u0026nbsp;not use the funds to purchase cattle but instead deposited the funds in an investment account where he repeatedly traded in small-capitalization and micro-cap securities ultimately losing all the funds. Johnson served as loan officer for approximately 29 loans and lines of credit at Community\\\\u0026nbsp;First Bank totaling approximately $4,476,156.22.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter receiving the victims\\\\u2019 funds, Johnson did not use the funds for proposed cattle sales. Instead, he used the victims\\\\u2019 funds to invest in\\\\u0026nbsp;high-risk stocks via his personal investment account. To further and conceal his scheme, Johnson used some of the victim\\\\u2019s funds to pay earlier investors in the scheme.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt various times between April 2024 and until Johnson\\\\u2019s termination in February\\\\u0026nbsp;2026, Johnson used his position as a loan officer and\\\\/or his status in the community to defraud individuals and a financial institution of at least $9,395,882.22. Johnson used his position at Community First Bank to obtain loans using\\\\u0026nbsp;the identity of other people. In February 2026, at least three loans were created in various individuals\\\\u2019\\\\u0026nbsp;names where they were not aware of or approved by these people. The three loans were created to\\\\u0026nbsp;pay off other loans Johnson created in the name of another person.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Aug. 5, 2024, Johnson completed an application for a loan for $1,447,000 through a financial institution in Jefferson City, Mo. The purpose of the loan was to purchase cow and calf pairs and refinance two loans.\\\\u0026nbsp;On Aug. 13, 2024, the loan was approved for $1,447,150. Of the loan proceeds, $46,809.93 was used to pay off a loan at a bank.\\\\u0026nbsp; $198,714.46 was used to pay off another loan at a bank and $1,201,475.61 was provided in a check to Johnson and was supposed to be used to purchase 400 head of cattle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn\\\\u0026nbsp;Aug. 14, 2024, the loan proceeds ($1,201,475.61) were deposited into a bank account. After the funds were deposited, there was not a large purchase of cattle as agreed upon in the loan. The funds instead were used to repay investors and for personal use.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Aug. 7, 2025, Johnson completed an application for another loan for $1,500,000 through another financial institution. The purpose of the loan was to purchase 550 cow and calf pairs. On Aug.\\\\u0026nbsp;13, 2025, the loan proceeds ($1,500,000)\\\\u0026nbsp;were deposited into Johnson\\\\u2019s account. Between Aug. 15, 2025, and Aug. 19, 2025,\\\\u0026nbsp;Johnson transferred $1,450,000 into his investment account.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Aug. 19, 2025, Johnson completed an application for a third loan for $900,000. The purpose of the of the loan was to purchase 300 cow and calf pairs. The loan was approved for $900,150. The loan proceeds ($900,000) were deposited into Johnson\\\\u2019s bank account. Johnson transferred $900,000 into his personal investment account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter receiving the loan proceeds for the second and third loans, Johnson provided a bill of sale dated Aug. 30, 2025, to a financial institution. The bill of sale appeared to show that Johnson purchased 850 cow and calf pairs for $2,825,000 from a livestock company in Evanston,\\\\u0026nbsp;Utah. The company did not sell 850 cow and calf pairs to Johnson in August 2025. The owner of the company stated the name on the bill of sale appeared to be his, but the signature was not.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJohnson did not use the combined funds from the three loans ($3,601,475.61) to purchase cattle as stated on the loan documentation but instead transferred the funds to his personal\\\\u0026nbsp; investment account and to make payments to previous victims who believed Johnson made good on their cattle deals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder federal statutes, Johnson is subject to the following sentences:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ef35e9b2088bbb5f2ca8181fd70ac3acd\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWire Fraud - up to 20 years in federal prison without parole\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e044d884519ef5af95801e7a536bbada0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EBank Fraud - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e537b444bf2a6f070fde53f9d2b68131c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAggravated Identity Theft \\\\u2013 a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ef4a4f1e252366163710dab6f6732cea9\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFalse Statement to a Financial Institution - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker.\\\\u0026nbsp; It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:17:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788974258\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:54:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788972881\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECraig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., has pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving an alleged cattle-buying scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Butler, Missouri Bank Vice President and Former Pastor Pleads Guilty to Financial Fraud Involving an Alleged Cattle-Buying Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/butler-missouri-bank-vice-president-and-former-pastor-pleads-guilty-financial-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8d95d26f-8dda-4ff6-9e55-21adc5d30571\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELUBBOCK, Texas \\\\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in Lubbock returned an indictment today charging Allegra Fey Mora, 28, with enticement of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her students.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe full force of my office will be brought to bear on teachers, administrators, and school districts who perpetuate a cycle of abuse in our schools,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\\\u201cNo one who abuses a position of authority over a child in the Northern District of Texas will escape scrutiny.\\\\u0026nbsp; As I said before, Project Safe Schools is here to stay, and I\\\\u2019d encourage teachers, administrators and school districts to report any and all abuse that has occurred in the past to my office.\\\\u0026nbsp; If we find out about it on our own, the consequences will be more severe.\\\\u0026nbsp; And to North Texas parents, we will continue to fight for you to put bad actors in prison who abuse kids and create a culture of concealment in our North Texas schools.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cProtecting children from exploitation is among HSI\\\\u2019s highest priorities, especially when allegations involve an abuse of trust by someone in a position of authority,\\\\u201d said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. \\\\u201cHSI Dallas will continue working alongside our partners to identify, investigate and support the prosecution of those who target minors. Every child deserves to be safe from exploitation, including in the places where they should feel most protected.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, from October 2025 to May 2026, Mora allegedly knowingly used a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, including a cellular telephone, to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Texas Rangers initiated an inquiry in June 2026 after receiving a report concerning possible inappropriate sexual conduct between Mora and a 17\\\\u2011year\\\\u2011old Muleshoe High School student. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted interviews, collected electronic evidence and executed search warrants related to the case. The evidence reviewed by investigators corroborates alleged explicit communications and conduct underlying the federal charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMora was arrested by state authorities earlier this year and was released pending further state proceedings. If convicted, Mora faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Texas Rangers conducted the investigation with forensic assistance from Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam from the Lubbock Division is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Schools is a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. Project Safe Schools directly targets failures in mandatory reporting of educator misconduct and combats the practice known as \\\\u201cpassing the trash,\\\\u201d where educators with known misconduct issues move between schools without disclosure of their prior wrongdoing. Project Safe Schools\\\\u2019 goals are to:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eec3cecaffcc83d8353f96458d36378c8\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEnforce mandatory reporting requirements tied to federal education programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0042bae4a58f55920a2ade4e85027ca4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHold school districts, administrators and teachers accountable through civil and criminal enforcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ecf1886fdb8aad2cd3604651c2ee847d4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIncrease transparency in educator misconduct investigations.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ee82e83849faf7c27593c2cda44e1cdab\\\\u0022\\\\u003EStrengthen student safety across schools in North Texas.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T21:57:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789005469\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:44:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789001041\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Project Safe Schools: Federal grand jury charges former high school teacher with enticement offense for alleged sexual relations with a minor\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/project-safe-schools-federal-grand-jury-charges-former-high-school-teacher-enticement\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"baf8eeb3-8fce-4f9a-a95a-7a76f3aaf067\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013 Lacresha Vining (\\\\u201cVINING\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701,\\\\u0026nbsp;announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Court also imposed a mandatory $10 special assessment fee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in September 2023, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EVINING\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E knowingly obstructed the passage of mail while employed as a postal carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General in investigating this matter.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; *\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:57:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788998247\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:52:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788997951\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013 LACRESHA VINING (\\\\u201cVINING\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701,\\\\u0026nbsp;announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Postal Employee Sentenced For Obstruction of U.S. Mail\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"351fcc4e-1f5b-4490-b848-db30da15059a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Public Corruption\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/former-postal-employee-sentenced-obstruction-us-mail\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3db05c33-0f48-44d4-8fdd-b09cb7fa00f4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962761\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY \\\\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959888\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) \\\\u2013 Washington Division,\\\\u0026nbsp;and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on February 4, 2025, a BPD detective, monitoring a CitiWatch Camera, observed Fallin displaying characteristics of an armed person. The detective saw Fallin adjusting the front waistband of his pants while in a convenience store.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThen Fallin exited the store and approached the driver\\\\u2019s side of a white vehicle with an unknown male who was speaking to a female driver. During the conversation, the officer noticed Fallin repeatedly checking and adjusting an object in the front waistband of his pants. Then the detective saw Fallin walk to the front of the car and pull out a black handgun and hold it against his side.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFallin then put the firearm back in his waistband and adjusted his pants. After the white vehicle left, Fallin went to his vehicle and entered the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Shortly after, BPD officers arrived on the scene to apprehend Fallin.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter law enforcement arrested Fallin, officers asked him if he owned a permit for the firearm. But Fallin denied having the firearm. Then law enforcement searched the vehicle and uncovered a loaded firearm that contained 12 rounds of ammunition underneath the driver\\\\u2019s seat.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, law enforcement discovered a United States Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key that fell from the driver\\\\u2019s side visor onto the driver\\\\u2019s seat. An Arrow Key is a government-issued master key that enables postal carriers to open cluster box units, blue collection boxes, and other USPS-secured mail infrastructure.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that the recovered Arrow Key was stolen from a postal carrier on February 3.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the\\\\u0026nbsp;USPIS and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the\\\\u0026nbsp;Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O\\\\u2019Donohue III,\\\\u0026nbsp;who prosecuted the federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:04:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977097\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976989\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Baltimore Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Stolen Postal Service Key\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/baltimore-man-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearm-and-stolen-postal-service-key\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"82f89b0c-382e-4a12-b21d-b58b7b9c17ad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGAINESVILLE \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cSocial Security fraud and identity theft strike at the heart of public trust and economic security. This alien\\\\u2019s alleged conduct not only jeopardized the integrity of our nation\\\\u2019s borders, but it also exposed unwitting victims to significant financial and legal issues stemming from the unauthorized use of their personal information,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cMy office remains committed to protecting victims and holding accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCounterfeit identification documents, including social security cards, are instruments of fraud that can upend victims\\\\u2019 lives, fuel criminal activity, and erode the integrity of our immigration, employment, and financial systems,\\\\u201d said\\\\u0026nbsp;Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. \\\\u201cHSI will continue working alongside our partners to disrupt fraud schemes designed to profit from stolen identities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 11, 2026 and on May 19, 2026, Alvarez allegedly sold an undercover agent three Social Security cards in exchange for $750 per card. Following the transactions, Alvarez allegedly sent the undercover agent the corresponding birth dates for the individuals listed on the cards.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents set up an August 5, 2026 meeting with Alvarez to purchase two additional Social Security cards. When Alvarez arrived to complete the transaction, agents arrested him on a federal criminal complaint and seized four additional Social Security cards from him. During a subsequent federal search warrant executed at Alvarez\\\\u2019s residence, agents found a semi-automatic pistol. Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (\\\\u201cSSA-OIG\\\\u201d) determined that all the cards purchased or seized from Alvarez were counterfeit. SSA-OIG further confirmed the Social Security numbers on each card were legitimate and associated with real people.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing his arrest on the complaint, a federal magistrate judge denied the United States\\\\u2019s motion to detain Alvarez. The United States immediately filed an emergency motion to stay and revoke the release order, arguing that there was a serious risk that Alvarez would flee. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story granted both motions and ordered that Alvarez be detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service without bond through the conclusion of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, a grand jury returned an 18-count federal indictment charging Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, 41, of Mexico, with seven counts of Social Security fraud, seven counts of production of false identification documents, three counts of transfer of false identification documents, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Today, a grand jury added two counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carries a mandatory minimum of two years\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMembers of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government\\\\u2019s burden to prove the defendant\\\\u2019s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with valuable assistance from the SSA-OIG.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:38:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979090\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:35:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978956\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDerly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges for Identity Theft, Producing and Selling Counterfeit Social Security Cards, and Unlawful Gun Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-faces-federal-charges-identity-theft-producing-and-selling-counterfeit\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ccb08ed0-9cdc-4805-a087-34d57ad48f9e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough\\\\u2019s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EScarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981008\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:08:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788980919\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1034\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-woman-sentenced-prison-11m-tax-refund-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"892bb09b-bee4-487e-bac3-799806955291\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, KAN. \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) provides an update of cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC). PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the commitment to prosecuting cases related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, USAO-KS staffs with federal prosecutors who specialize in seeking justice in these types of offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn June, July, and August, USAO-KS indicted defendants on child exploitation related offenses while achieving substantial sentences for defendants post-conviction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EIndictment\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJonathan Arnold, 47, of Leavenworth was indicted on three counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStephen Crook, 34, Leavenworth of was indicted on one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor under 12 years of age.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid Reno, 58, of Lenexa was indicted on two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyller White, 24, of Parsons was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a child \\\\u2013 attempted production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EColton Wiggins, 25, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPlea\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody S. Bingham, 24, of Derby pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWilliam \\\\u201cBill\\\\u201d Bright, 58, of Hutchinson pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames D. Fishbaugh, 53, of Blue Springs, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDean Glovier, 28, of Topeka, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBebak Gurung, 26, of Fort Riley, Kansas, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation-production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyson Hale, 26, of Mayetta, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of minor in Indian Country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDylan Jamescupp, 34, of Ottawa pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZachery Leslie, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMichael Steven Podrybau, 43, of Alton pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdam T. Umstead, 42, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMichael Eugene Watley, 58, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencing\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoshua Craig Abel, 44, of Topeka was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release, after a jury convicted him of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 possession of child pornography. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Donald Dube, 40, Topeka was sentenced to 90 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGarrett Gayoso, 25, of Baxter Springs was sentenced to 222 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count production of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETommie Earnest Giles, 53, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBlake Nolan, 21, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGavin Onuffer, 28, of Haysville was sentenced to 121 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDennis Lee Hamilton, 45, of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced 360 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid Mark Jones, 35, of Shawnee was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJeffrey T. Lyons, 33, of Olathe was sentenced to 264 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictor Ortiz, 49, of Junction City was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor \\\\u2013 production of child pornography\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdam Charles Pfeiffer, 36, of Wichita was sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERonald Waltrip, 62, of Haysville was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child \\\\u2013 production of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:52:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788969148\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kansas\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:29:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788964167\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) provides an update of cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"District of Kansas releases update on child exploitation cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ks\\\\/pr\\\\/district-kansas-releases-quarterly-update-child-exploitation-cases-prosecuted-under-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80dfc7c-45ba-43ab-b184-950b9c1019f5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E plead guilty on May 29, 2026, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1347, and was sentenced to ten years in prison on October 23, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained fraudulent doctors\\\\u2019 orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries\\\\u2019 treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;submitted over $174\\\\u0026nbsp;million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55\\\\u0026nbsp;million in reimbursements.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBefore \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was indicted, law enforcement officers seized several of his assets that had been purchased with the proceeds of his scheme. In its recent order, the Court ordered the forfeiture of the contents of an investment account and a bank account held in the name of a company controlled by \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, along with three vehicles purchased with proceeds of the offense, namely, a Land Rover Range Rover, a BMW, and a Ford F-150. In total, the forfeited accounts contained a value totaling approximately $7,051,089.08.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAsset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that allows the United States to take property derived from, or used to commit, federal crimes. It is designed to strip criminals of the proceeds of their offenses, remove the instruments used to carry them out, and- where victims can be identified- return recovered funds to the people who were harmed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of\\\\u0026nbsp;the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, handled the forfeiture component.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Fraud Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995545\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994977\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMCNAMARA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of Approximately $7 Million and Three Vehicles Following Conviction of Jamie P. McNamara\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-orders-forfeiture-approximately-7-million-and-three-vehicles-following\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3de0624c-5732-4481-ac73-96d37a2b6035\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1461021\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"594836a0-31db-4c53-a6b4-f62cc81c2e8e\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EMemphis Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Trafficking 20 Lbs Of Meth To Marshall County\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOXFORD, MS. \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Scott Leary announced two separate convictions resulting from Homeland Security Task Force investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlbert Ardell Scott, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Mississippi.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe DEA conducted this Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation. According to court documents, Scott made the methamphetamine delivery from the Memphis area to Byhalia, MS, in May of 2025. Scott was part of a multi-defendant conspiracy which operated in Tennessee and Mississippi. Several members remain currently charged by indictment, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Scott to 120 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ETupelo Man Sentenced To Over 15 Years For Possessing Hundreds of Meth \\\\u0026amp;Fentanyl Pills\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn another case, James Homan, 44, of Tupelo, was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI conducted this HSTF investigation, which resulted in the seizure of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine and over 100 grams of fentanyl. Homan had a lengthy criminal history.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Homan to 188 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, \\\\u201cHomeland Security Task Forces were created by Executive Order in 2025. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels and drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States and abroad. We are again seeing the great law enforcement results from the HSTF initiative. Methamphetamine is among the most addictive and destructive drugs this country has ever faced. Likewise, one fentanyl pill can be fatal, and in this case enough fentanyl was seized to create thousands of pills. The FBI and DEA took these drugs off the streets of the Northern District of Mississippi, and today our communities are safer. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case. They are valuable assets to the Northern District of Mississippi.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, \\\\u0022Homan intended to distribute massive quantities of deadly methamphetamine and fentanyl pills throughout Mississippi, putting our communities at risk and destroying lives in the process. Today\\\\u2019s sentence should serve as a warning to others who engage in this dangerous and illegal activity: illicit drugs will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting public safety and holding those who threaten our communities accountable for their criminal actions.\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese operations and convictions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis not only on cartel crimes, but also on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:52:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789134771\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-11T09:32:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789133574\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"202609-05\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlbert Ardell Scott of Memphis was sentenced to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of meth to Mississippi.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames Homan of Tupelo was sentenced to over 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 600 grams of meth and over 100 grams of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force Investigations Lead to Sentencings for Drug Traffickers \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndms\\\\/pr\\\\/homeland-security-task-force-investigations-lead-sentencings-drug-traffickers\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"abb5e122-59c3-444f-bcba-720855dbe4a5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\\\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\\\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\\\u201ctimknight444,\\\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant results for Knight\\\\u2019s Instagram account and collected two J-Pay tablets at Central State Prison. One tablet was found in Knight\\\\u2019s locker and had been altered but did not contain CSAM. Investigators found the second tablet with Knight when they confiscated it. Investigators confirmed that the tablet was altered and that it contained CSAM. Also, the device contained Google search histories for information on abusing, trafficking, and raping children. Investigators found 3,410 unique artifacts of CSAM material that include images of prepubescent children. Most images came from five different video series.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Brown and Julius Jefferson are prosecuting the case for the Government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975784\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:41:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975664\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"State Inmate with Child Sexual Abuse Material Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdga\\\\/pr\\\\/state-inmate-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9b7861e6-d832-48a0-9103-ef51184b8c64\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHAMMOND \\\\u2013 Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois.\\\\u0026nbsp; Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRecidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; They\\\\u0026nbsp;used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased.\\\\u0026nbsp;In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.\\\\u0026nbsp;Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Thanks to the partnership of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:37:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072641\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"27450eca-820f-409c-ae9c-7d89d90bef92\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:30:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072221\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Gary Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Postal Money Order Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndin\\\\/pr\\\\/gary-man-sentenced-15-months-prison-postal-money-order-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f38a7066-e93f-4ad3-9ff0-1404f5b99ae6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyree Saunders, 21, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that that an undercover officer made a purchase of various controlled substances, including crack cocaine, directly from the defendant. Based on that and other information, the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained authority to intercept Saunders\\\\u2019 communications, which revealed that Saunders was regularly selling crack cocaine and used a firearm to threaten a co-conspirator. The investigators obtained a warrant to search the defendant\\\\u2019s home, where authorities found crack cocaine and a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Hardy scheduled sentencing for January 13, 2027. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Saunders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:45:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983140\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:44:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983040\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Violations\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/west-mifflin-man-pleads-guilty-drug-and-firearm-violations-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c52f2739-d086-4bf2-94a0-c307275f3893\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHOUSTON \\\\u2013 A 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAuthorities have now taken Alla Nowowiejski into custody. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett at 2 p.m. today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients to assist them with establishing or adjusting their work status and applying for work visas. However, she allegedly never submitted the applications or only submitted them in part.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment further alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents or reference numbers associated with active immigration cases unrelated to her clients. She allegedly used the documents and reference number to make the clients believe immigration authorities were processing their applications.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Homeland Security \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service \\\\u2013 OIG conducted the investigation with assistance of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Harris County Constable\\\\u2019s Office - Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice has created the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-1.govdelivery.com\\\\/cl0\\\\/https:%2f%2fwww.justice.gov%2fopa%2fpr%2facting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement%3futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery\\\\/1\\\\/0100019d6f561d1d-a5ad8fc3-ccfc-4d37-a8ed-\\\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\\\u0022node\\\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\\\u0022e6ae8384-0ce7-4217-8137-6de5cc8173ad\\\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\\\u0022canonical\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement\\\\u0026nbsp;Division\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAn indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T18:04:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789077845\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:06:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788998760\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Immigration attorney arrested in alleged fraud scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/immigration-attorney-arrested-alleged-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0a1b5a1-2f8a-4a33-a5d8-a3aeea64ea41\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 5, 2025, the Buffalo Police Department, ATF and FBI executed a search warrant at Carter\\\\u2019s Jackson Avenue residence in Sloan, during which they seized two loaded pistols and approximately 25 pounds of suspected marijuana. Carter was convicted of felony charges in January 2010, in Erie County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:11:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995482\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:07:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convicted felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c903a18b-d277-4668-824e-e3b2e52b722c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs a result of the outstanding work by the FBI, our local law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Johnson has been held accountable for his role in a large-scale narcotics distribution operation involving fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and for distributing fentanyl and cocaine that caused three individuals to overdose in 2020,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cWe hope that today\\\\u2019s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims who thankfully survived and their families, and sends a clear message that those who distribute drugs, particularly that cause overdoses, will face severe consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u0027s sentencing of Gary Johnson serves as a stark reminder that those who distribute drugs in New York will be held accountable.\\\\u0026nbsp; The FBI New York Long Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force works tirelessly to bring drug traffickers to justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Those who endeavor to follow in Johnson\\\\u0027s footsteps will be stopped in their tracks, so that future victims may be spared,\\\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe drug epidemic is fueled by people who are focused on making a profit, without regard for the devastating consequences their actions can have when those drugs reach individuals who ultimately overdose,\\\\u201d stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cI want to commend EDNY for ensuring Johnson will be spending time in prison for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to halt the flow of narcotics and hold drug dealers accountable for the selfish choices that put lives at risk.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 2013 and November 2020, Johnson, a leader in the G-Shine set of the Bloods based in Suffolk County, sold fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout Long Island.\\\\u0026nbsp; The drugs distributed by the defendant caused multiple victims to overdose, including three individuals who suffered overdoses in March and May 2020.\\\\u0026nbsp; The jury convicted Johnson of multiple narcotics-distribution offenses, including three counts of distributing narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJohnson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp; That conviction arose from the recovery of a semi-automatic firearm from Johnson\\\\u2019s residence during the execution of a search warrant.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office\\\\u2019s Long Island Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa, Stephen Petraeus, and Mark E. Misorek are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Dejah Turla, Rebecca Roth, and Adam Bernard, as well as Victim Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGARY JOHNSON\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge: 43\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EBellport, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-518 (S-2) (JMA)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:27:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978474\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:20:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978041\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Bloods Gang Leader Sentenced to 280 Months\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Narcotics Distribution Resulting in Three Overdoses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/bloods-gang-leader-sentenced-280-months-imprisonment-narcotics-distribution-resulting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f5a73132-7d01-453a-801e-a28954c3f449\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460771\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24fe11d9-268d-47d4-b0a9-235c1987a13a\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460776\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"21d29d57-4054-4d9a-a7b4-8731071005d3\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\\\u2013 An Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (\\\\u201cUSPS\\\\u201d), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELeslie Blackwood, 25, of Irvington, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an Information charging him with conspiracy to steal checks from the mail.\\\\u0026nbsp;Verly Antenor, 24, of Roselle Park, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty on July 16, 2026, before Judge Salas to the same charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to documents filed in the cases and statements made in court:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween September 2021 to March 2022, Blackwood and Antenor agreed with other individuals to steal checks from the mail.\\\\u0026nbsp;They possessed and used stolen or misappropriated arrow keys to access USPS collection boxes in Livingston and Clifton and steal mail containing checks.\\\\u0026nbsp; To profit from the scheme, Blackwood and Antenor sold, deposited, or caused to be deposited the stolen checks to fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions.\\\\u0026nbsp; Blackwood and Antenor sometimes \\\\u201cwashed\\\\u201d the stolen checks by erasing the date, payee, amount, and memo line from the stolen checks and replacing the information, oftentimes for higher amounts than the amounts originally written on the checks.\\\\u0026nbsp;Overall, Blackwood and Antenor agreed that the scheme caused an actual loss of approximately $670,313.46.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to commit mail theft carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentencing for Blackwood is scheduled for February 16, 2027, and sentencing for Antenor is scheduled for December 17, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Frazer credited postal inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and special agents with the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, with the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; He also thanked the Livingston Police Department and the Clifton Police Department for their assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDefense counsel for Blackwood:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Claressa Lowe, Esq.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDefense counsel for Antenor:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Roberto Espinosa, Esq.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460771\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/media\\\\/1460771\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=124940\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022antenor.information.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eantenor.information.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460776\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/media\\\\/1460776\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=139560\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022blackwood.information.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eblackwood.information.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:57:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983865\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:42:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788982975\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-193\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (\\\\u201cUSPS\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKaitlyn Salinas\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney General\\\\u0026nbsp;in\\\\u0026nbsp;the Georgia Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EStephen Scaife\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAmy Schwarzl\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERobert Shapiro\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law\\\\u0026nbsp;and Piedmont University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPatrick Silloway\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a\\\\u0026nbsp;Counsel at Balch \\\\u0026amp; Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He\\\\u0026nbsp;attended Mercer University School of\\\\u0026nbsp;Law and the University of Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAlexa Simonini\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard \\\\u0026amp; Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EChloe Smith\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\\\u0026amp; National Security Section. She worked as\\\\u0026nbsp;Special Matters \\\\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate\\\\u0026nbsp;at King \\\\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAdam Sunstrom\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPatrick Suter\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Criminal Division and as the Department\\\\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an\\\\u0026nbsp;AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKatie Taylor\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis \\\\u0026amp; Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDrew Waldbeser\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EConor Woods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds \\\\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:15:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788966955\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959935\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460506\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b14b1127-5ee4-4f86-ae24-51c245f1393c\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460511\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"43d86eec-7140-40a9-ae8d-0836f6d4f6d7\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460516\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56e24643-27aa-443a-a101-fdc78dc56798\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460521\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ce7f8675-b995-4d6f-909b-de34876708bd\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"ATLANTA \\\\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460526\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cbc59f3e-fc92-475f-9ae5-0b46b36a4d62\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"USAO NDGA 09\\\\/03\\\\/26 - AG Visit\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/attorney-general-todd-blanche-celebrates-prosecutorial-successes-and-record-setting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7a64cf38-a160-4e08-b947-18a0ba3cf6f6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460536\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b70cb281-10dc-4e84-8b06-b5cec0ccbafe\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSolomon,\\\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees. BARRON and AHIGA were previously arrested and presented in the Central District of California and are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment\\\\u0026nbsp;this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute frauds targeting vulnerable victims,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga allegedly preyed upon financially struggling homeowners who got behind on their mortgages by charging them monthly fees and leading them to believe much of their past-due balances would be forgiven, causing a number of those customers\\\\u2019 homes to go into foreclosure.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga\\\\u2019s alleged fraud scheme involved taking money from people who sought assistance with their mortgages,\\\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\\\u201cThis scheme hurt hundreds of vulnerable people financially. The FBI will continue to prioritize complex financial fraud investigations to protect the public from anyone who takes advantage of consumers.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Indictment:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom at least in or about June 2018 through at least in or about September 2022, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, BARRON and AHIGA, together with others, defrauded clients of their mortgage modification business and the clients\\\\u2019 mortgage lenders. BARRON, AHIGA, and others operated their mortgage modification business under different names, including Green Equitable Solutions, d\\\\/b\\\\/a Academy Home Services; South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc. d\\\\/b\\\\/a Home Matters USA; Apex Consulting \\\\u0026amp; Associates Inc., d\\\\/b\\\\/a Golden Home Services America; and Infocom Entertainment Ltd., d\\\\/b\\\\/a Atlantic Pacific Service (collectively, the \\\\u201cCompany\\\\u201d). BARRON, AHIGA, and others solicited homeowners who were struggling to make monthly payments on their mortgages and promised to have the homeowners\\\\u2019 interest rates and monthly payments reduced in exchange for monthly fees.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBARRON, AHIGA, and others induced the Company\\\\u2019s clients to accept their services and to continue to pay the monthly fees by lying about, among other matters, the amount of time that the mortgage modification process would take and the nature of the fees that the clients were paying for mortgage modification services. The defendants and others also directed clients to stop making monthly mortgage payments to their lenders and to pay the Company monthly fees instead. The conspirators falsely told clients that their lenders would forgive their arrearages and, in many instances, that part of their monthly payments to the Company would go to pay down the balances of their mortgage loans. BARRON, AHIGA, and others also defrauded the clients\\\\u2019 lenders by making material misrepresentations and by engaging in fraudulent practices to cause the lenders to modify the clients\\\\u2019 mortgages, including by creating and submitting fabricated bank statements so that the Company\\\\u2019s clients appeared to meet the lenders\\\\u2019 criteria for a modification. Clients of the mortgage modification business operated by BARRON, AHIGA, and others paid over approximately $15 million for mortgage modification services, and a number of those clients\\\\u2019 homes went into foreclosure.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESOLIS BARRON, 63, of La Habra Heights, California, and AHIGA, 56, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec5d39d84a4de11b601230de288ff8684\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the\\\\u0026nbsp;Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:21:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788963718\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:10:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788963009\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-252\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\\\u201cFBI\\\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSolomon,\\\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Individuals Charged In Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Modification Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/two-individuals-charged-multimillion-dollar-mortgage-modification-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0088b663-5338-41b8-827e-a928d3aed37e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA - Roberto Lopez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Shrek, a\\\\/k\\\\/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBefore he went underground, Lopez was the head of domestic transportation for ruthless and far-reaching cartels that poured drugs into our community with military-level precision,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cEven if it takes decades, my office and our law enforcement partners in the Homeland Security Task Force will never cease our efforts to track and arrest fugitives in their hiding places and hold them accountable for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cLopez\\\\u2019s sentence is the result of a determined and coordinated effort to dismantle the criminal network he was a part of,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cThe success of this investigation demonstrates the strength of our Homeland Security Task Force partnerships and what we can accomplish when agencies work together.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In the early 2000s, Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cLa Barbie,\\\\u201d was an infamous and ruthless enforcer for the Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels in their war against the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. Valdez also partnered with U.S.-based trucking businessman Carlos Montemayor to operate a distribution network that moved up to 300 kilograms of cocaine per week to Atlanta, Memphis, and other cities while smuggling cash back to Mexico in shipments carrying no less than $1 million per load. In just a six-month period, the organization distributed 1,500 kilograms of cocaine in Atlanta alone.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe cartels\\\\u2019 operation is also estimated to have smuggled more than 1,000 rifles, 100-200 converted machineguns, and hundreds of magazines and ammunition drums into Mexico from the United States, along with silencers, night vision goggles, ballistic vests, helmets, and other tools of violence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELopez was the primary lieutenant for Valdez and Montemayor\\\\u2019s network, handling various logistics, including payments to truck drivers and stash house operators and the repackaging and transportation of money over the border. He was repeatedly intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps discussing loads of cocaine bound for the U.S. and shipments of cash destined for cartel leaders. When the investigation disrupted the organization, Lopez fled to Mexico, where he remained in hiding until his arrest there in 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoberto Lopez, 46, of Laredo, Texas and Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. He pled guilty on May 19, 2026, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Following his indictment on December 15, 2009, Lopez was arrested in Mexico City on June 27, 2024, and expelled by Mexico to the United States on August 12, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn 2018, a federal judge in Atlanta sentenced Valdez to 49 years and 1 month in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In 2019, Montemayor was sentenced to 34 years and 3 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and Elizabeth M. Hathaway and former U.S. Attorney John Horn prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:10:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977407\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:06-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976986\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoberto Lopez, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Shrek, a\\\\/k\\\\/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Lieutenant in Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels Sentenced to Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/lieutenant-sinaloa-and-beltran-leyva-cartels-sentenced-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aa503ef0-fd1f-478e-87b9-5f822da6a537\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM IZA, 26, of California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 180 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Danbury in August 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men who were involved in a violent carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two occupants of the vehicle on that date.\\\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that the kidnapping victims are the parents of an individual who participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin.\\\\u0026nbsp; In an attempt to steal some of that Bitcoin, Iza and others planned and coordinated the attempted robbery and ultimately the kidnapping.\\\\u0026nbsp; Iza\\\\u2019s alleged co-coconspirator, who had an altercation with the victims\\\\u2019 son in a Miami nightclub in July 2024, was in regular communication with certain of the kidnappers in the days before the crime, provided funding for it, and helped arrange the participants\\\\u2019 transportation and lodging.\\\\u0026nbsp; Iza communicated via cellphone and encrypted messaging applications with certain of the kidnappers, directed them as to the logistics of the scheme, and also provided funding.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIza has been detained since September 24, 2024, after\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/crypto-godfather-and-lasd-detective-agree-plead-guilty-violating-civil-rights-business\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehe was charged in the Central District of California with unrelated federal offenses\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp; On June 1, 2026, he pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (\\\\u201cHobbs Act Robbery\\\\u201d).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIza\\\\u2019s brother,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/missouri-man-admits-role-cryptocurrency-robbery-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESaif Faiq\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, pleaded guilty to the same offense and awaits sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/6-florida-men-charged-conspiracy-carjacking-offenses\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESix individuals\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E who carried out the carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty.\\\\u0026nbsp; Other alleged co-conspirators are awaiting trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and the Danbury Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The FBI Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the District of New Jersey, and the State\\\\u2019s Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:50:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979831\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:47:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979644\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0049 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01YKbbdTuauheumn6E1EAscA

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01YKbbdTuauheumn6E1EAscA", "elapsed": 3.507195864, "error": "", "result": {"content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":4},\"executionTime\":2.5506141185760498},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cMy team of tenacious federal prosecutors continues to deliver outstanding trial victories to hold accountable any and all criminals who brazenly violate our laws. My thanks go out to our state and federal law enforcement partners, whose excellent investigative work led to this successful prosecution.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records and trial testimony revealed that on February 10, 2026, during a law enforcement investigation, a search warrant was executed on the defendant\\u2019s residence. Two loaded handguns were discovered in the defendant\\u2019s nightstand. The defendant was previously convicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, in 2011 of three felonies, including two counts of conspiracy to steal or misapply funds from an organization that receives federal assistance and to commit wire fraud and aiding and abetting or misapplying funds as a credit union employee. The defendant was terminated from his position as the City Manager of Quincy in June 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was jointly investigated by the Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049490\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:09:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049344\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Quincy City Manager Found Guilty of Firearm Possession as Convicted Felon\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/former-quincy-city-manager-found-guilty-firearm-possession-convicted-felon\",\"uuid\":\"e31c5f2a-c779-4a26-85f7-44dbe4de167d\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460981\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"1e38b3c1-851a-401d-ada2-0bcb42a5e3bb\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EOxford, MS \\u2013 A Batesville woman was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison for possessing one or more homemade bombs on separate occasions.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Christina Willis, 29, previously pled guilty to possession of the bombs, or destructive devices, one of which Willis placed on the vehicle of her ex-boyfriend in June 2025. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Willis to 78 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Willis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott Leary made the announcement and stated, \\u201cWe live in a wonderful country but it\\u2019s still a dangerous world, as confirmed by this case. When bombs are being produced an all-hands-on-deck response is required, which is what happened in this case. Federal, state and local law enforcement worked closely together in this coordinated investigation. The ATF and FBI working with the Lafayette County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Panola County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Yalobusha County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Tupelo Police Department-this is what a successful investigation looks like. Well done.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cATF is dedicated to preventing and reducing violent crime involving the criminal use of explosives,\\u201d said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. \\u201cThe collaborative effort of federal and local law enforcement, led by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, secured a sentence today that sends a message that ATF will continue to investigate and perfect charges against those who use explosives. ATF will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and neighborhoods and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Robert Mims prosecuted this case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:13:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074830\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\",\"name\":\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:51:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789073485\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"202609-07\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EChristina Willis was sentenced to more than six years for possessing homemade bombs.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Batesville Woman Sentenced for Possessing Homemade Bombs, including One Found on Her Ex\\u0026#039;s Vehicle\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndms\\/pr\\/batesville-woman-sentenced-possessing-homemade-bombs-including-one-found-her-exs\",\"uuid\":\"66467eab-9017-4087-b7ae-33ea687004fc\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Peabody, Mass., who served as a \\u201cgeneral\\u201d in Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a violent transnational criminal organization based in Brazil, has pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking and firearm charges. PCC is one of the largest cocaine distributors in the world and is responsible for acts of violence and firearms trafficking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdinazio Vinicius Soares Dias-Barbosa, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cPanda,\\u201d 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, being an alien in possession of firearms and ammunition and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2026. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint on July 30, 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDias-Barbosa supplied fentanyl and cocaine to a drug trafficking network operating on the North Shore of Massachusetts. During the investigation, a search of Dias-Barbosa\\u2019s cell phone revealed numerous messages and photographs detailing his drug trafficking activities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460891\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/picture_1.png?itok=5vkO9crR\\u0022 width=\\u0022578\\u0022 height=\\u0022256\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Cellphone images of defendants drug trafficking activities\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 1, 2025, as part of the investigation, Dias-Barbosa was stopped on Interstate 95 in South Carolina. Dias-Barbosa consented to a search of his vehicle but fled on foot across the interstate just before the search began. He was apprehended in the grassy median. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, nine rifles and ammunition were seized from the floor of the rear passenger compartment. Dias-Barbosa admitted that he had purchased the firearms in South Carolina and was transporting them to a broker in Miami, who would arrange for the rifles to be transported to Brazil through Paraguay.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license each provide for a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of the Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Division; and Jack D. Buckley, Chief of Medford Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Everett, Framingham, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and Yemassee (S.C.) Police Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Massachusetts Army National Guard \\u2013 Counterdrug Office; and the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:58:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066711\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:49:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066182\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460891\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"897c7bb7-4ee4-4af2-9d14-2b0e2106ec24\"},\"alt\":\"Cellphone images of defendants drug trafficking activities\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"9236b2bc-57e7-420f-bea3-c9ffad36ef64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPORTLAND, Maine:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;A Rumford man pleaded guilty on September 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, in May 2025, the Lewiston Police Department received multiple reports of gunshots. Callers reported a male had been shooting a firearm and then entered a dark-colored vehicle parked on the street. Upon arrival, police encountered \\u003Cstrong\\u003ETroy Blanchard\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 37, seated in the driver\\u2019s seat of a black vehicle. A standoff ensued with Blanchard ignoring police commands to exit the vehicle. Police were eventually able to remove Blanchard from the vehicle after firing pepper balls through the rear window. Police subsequently located a Kel-Tec .22 caliber pistol on the passenger seat next to Blanchard. At the time of his arrest, Blanchard was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBlanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EOperation Take Back America:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:01:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070506\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maine\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:59:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070363\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBlanchard faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rumford Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-me\\/pr\\/rumford-man-pleads-guilty-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"951bed6d-62ec-43bc-bae6-4ee3bfe9a746\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. \\u0026nbsp;Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. \\u0026nbsp;Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e13f1e08a208e08bb89bef8e1a1ec03\\u0022\\u003EOn April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e10a3330bdf28a5c5dce72319283b7eab\\u0022\\u003EOn December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e704a9ef458b7501bacb095c8248a575d\\u0022\\u003EOn December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb99672574729f3a26d18ed5be691e796\\u0022\\u003EOn January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e51e131cc41b52f17370dd35d27c5b1b7\\u0022\\u003EOn January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e851604b39eb6ad088ddf0d29143a815a\\u0022\\u003EOn January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. \\u0026nbsp;Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. \\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Hawaii.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:59:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:55:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088126\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/honolulu-man-involved-trans-pacific-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-10-years\",\"uuid\":\"6d3494ef-6812-4725-9a23-a56ee306fd4c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert J. Fundermann, age 50, from Anthon, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 10, 2026, to eighteen and a half years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on February 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2023 through April 2025, Fundermann distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Further evidence showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u0026nbsp; A review of Fundermann\\u2019s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation also revealed that Fundermann was previously convicted for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSC.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Fundermann to 222 months\\u2019 imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; Court file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The case file number is 25-4039.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:21:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075268\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:20:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075225\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Anthon, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/anthon-iowa-man-sentenced-over-18-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"8d1ffaae-440d-4f3c-86b7-3112893b125a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. \\u0026nbsp;After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. \\u0026nbsp;The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams\\u2019 Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams\\u2019s Ford Raptor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee\\u2019s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency\\u2019s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr163\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:27:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075668\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:24:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/district-man-sentenced-possession-firearm-after-ditching-cocaine-trafficking-evidence\",\"uuid\":\"3961ffa0-9d1c-4496-9b1d-eb21a1ea345a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for\\u0026nbsp;three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGolovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, in or around February 2025, Golovchenko met a 12-year-old female online. Between February and April 2025, Golovchenko persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity over the social media application Snapchat. Golovchenko also employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\u0026nbsp;the FBI and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Courtney Derry.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:32:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789050755\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:30:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789050647\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for\\u0026nbsp;three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGolovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Oregon Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Coercing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/oregon-man-sentenced-25-years-coercing-minor-engage-sexual-activity-and-production\",\"uuid\":\"6d2299d1-ae79-41ca-a777-54bb972f27be\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETestimony at trial showed that Johnson \\u2014 who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses \\u2014 had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran \\u201cKrazyside Kennels\\u201d referred to his new operation as \\u201cMal Kant Kennels.\\u201d The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460961\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture1.png?itok=i4326WoJ\\u0022 width=\\u0022308\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460966\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture2.png?itok=Iu_huexy\\u0022 width=\\u0022307\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cAs Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.\\u0026nbsp;To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can\\u2019t hide from the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cWe are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. \\u201cI applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as \\u201cchampions\\u201d and \\u201cgrand champions,\\u201d meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and \\u201cstud fees\\u201d for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:11:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074702\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:39:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460961\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"751cf611-b05a-49ab-ae61-41447fabe1f8\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460966\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c6985aba-8b1e-4fa7-a885-c1527d42226c\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog2\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog2\"}],\"number\":\"26-1042\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"81e06cc2-8cd6-4ed0-b996-a226abd196b9\",\"name\":\"Animal Welfare\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-sentenced-5-years-prison-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and\",\"uuid\":\"50446941-bded-4e90-a5c0-fea110b9a7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Hudson, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEdwin Hernandez-Orellana, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served, approximately 16 months. The defendant is now subject to deportation proceedings. Previously, Hernandez-Orellana pled guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. According to court records, Hernandez-Orellana had been in custody since his arrest on May 14, 2025. Hernandez-Orellana was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Hernandez-Orellana was found in the United States on May 14, 2025, after previously having been removed from the United States on or about May 21, 2014. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julissa Walsh and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T10:36:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789137379\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Massachusetts\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:52:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789069946\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBOSTON \\u2013 A Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Hudson, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Guatemalan National Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ma\\/pr\\/guatemalan-national-sentenced-unlawful-reentry-0\",\"uuid\":\"950faeb4-6cfe-46d3-a5ba-a658e90d8286\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460896\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"aef4f133-87cc-4ff5-9325-f8d6844101ed\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460901\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"8959b511-a335-4fd9-801a-403f565823c6\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460906\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"5d69e7e0-4281-429c-945d-094588a0c433\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\u2013 Two men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman, 55, a Mexican national, and most recently of Missouri, and Michael Brandon Araiza, 27, of California were charged in a one-count Indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. They were arraigned on September 10, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court. Both entered pleas of not guilty.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo other defendants charged in the drug distribution conspiracy, Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal and Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego, both of California, previously entered guilty pleas before Judge Semper to separate Informations charging them with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Villarreal was sentenced to 57 months\\u2019 imprisonment on August 7, 2026; sentencing for Samaniego is scheduled for November 9, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPelayo-Guzman is associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operating in Mexico and a principal member of a Kansas City-based drug trafficking organization involved in the international and interstate transportation and distribution of narcotics. Beginning in January 2025, Pelayo-Guzman, Araiza, Villarreal, and Samaniego conspired to transport large quantities of cocaine to New Jersey. Specifically, Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza traveled to New Jersey in April 2025 and arranged for a shipment of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine to be delivered to Newark, New Jersey from California via a truck driven by Villarreal and Samaniego. After delivering the approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for over $300,000 in cash, law enforcement officers arrested Villarreal and Samaniego. Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza were arrested shortly afterwards.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge in the Indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the Indictment. He also thanked the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge\\u0026nbsp;Jenifer Piovesan\\u0026nbsp;in Newark; the Monmouth County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago; the Ocean County Prosecutor\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes; the Newark Department of Public Safety, Newark Police Division, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber; the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; the Neptune Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Anthony Gualario; the Ocean Gate Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Kuchta; and the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Philip Corbisiero, for their assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 rel=\\u0022noopener noreferrer\\u0022 data-interception=\\u0022off\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; ###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDefense counsel:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman:\\u0026nbsp;Adalgiza A. N\\u00fa\\u00f1ez, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMichael Brandon Araiza: Patrick J. Joyce, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJose Manuel Amaya Villarreal: Perry Primavera, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EReymond Alex Avina Samaniego:\\u0026nbsp;Joseph D. Rotella, Esq.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460906\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460906\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=928925\\u0022 title=\\u0022guzmanetal.indictment.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Eguzmanetal.indictment.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460901\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460901\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=145375\\u0022 title=\\u0022samaniego.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Esamaniego.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-document media--document--embedded entity-document-1460896\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-nj\\/media\\/1460896\\/dl?inline\\u0022 type=\\u0022application\\/pdf; length=118948\\u0022 title=\\u0022villarreal.information.pdf\\u0022 class=\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\u0022\\u003Evillarreal.information.pdf\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n \\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:09:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067380\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Jersey\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:43:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065820\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-195\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETwo men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Men, including a Mexican National, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nj\\/pr\\/two-men-including-mexican-national-indicted-drug-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"d280930c-43d9-46a9-9adc-2ddf8f81c535\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Baltimore man faces indictment stemming from multiple armed robberies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury charged Carlos Moody, 38, with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in connection with the armed robberies of three Baltimore cellphone stores.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, in late December 2025, Moody robbed three different cellphone stores, located in the southern and northern areas of Baltimore, in a four-day period.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is not a finding of guilt.\\u0026nbsp;Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Moody faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on each of the three counts alleged in the indictment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u0026nbsp; On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes\\u0026nbsp;commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ty Pittinger and John W. Sippel, Jr.,\\u0026nbsp;who are prosecuting the federal case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:38:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789069093\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:34:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789068858\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Baltimore man faces indictment stemming from multiple armed robberies. A federal grand jury charged Carlos Moody, 38, with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in connection with the armed robberies of three Baltimore cellphone stores.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Baltimore Man Indicted in Connection With Armed Robberies of Three Cellphone Stores \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/baltimore-man-indicted-connection-armed-robberies-three-cellphone-stores\",\"uuid\":\"be635d36-0461-4cde-84cb-be3d4db14cda\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to reports, on or about August 18, 2026, West was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of approximately thirty-seven pounds of a substance which appeared to be cocaine. Presumptive testing yielded positive results for cocaine which would have an estimated street value of around $400,000. Additionally, West was also found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm pistol.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney April Leon leads the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052959\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052811\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Worlington West, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"BATON ROUGE MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF COCAINE \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdla\\/pr\\/baton-rouge-man-indicted-possessing-intent-distribute-approximately-thirty-seven\",\"uuid\":\"04d01bed-b584-457b-bdc2-8d12fff2b785\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate\\u2019s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate\\u2019s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlthough Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A.\\u0026nbsp;Bashant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Danks\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Age: 69\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Irvine, CA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1512(b)(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EObstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1503\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPerjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1623(a)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCY\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:50:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:48:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789076917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Danks\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-director-nasdaq-company-convicted-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"6b563bf0-0bc4-4013-acf6-71439e238bc8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT was arrested\\u0026nbsp;in Jamaica\\u0026nbsp;on August 28, 2025,\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;subsequently\\u0026nbsp;extradited to the United States on October 22, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;In June 2026, he pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence reflects the seriousness of schemes that deliberately target elderly victims and strip them of their financial security,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cJordan Trought defrauded hundreds of elderly victims out of millions of dollars, taking advantage of their age to rob them of their hard-earned life savings.\\u0026nbsp; In doing so, he and his co-conspirators imposed devastating financial consequences on their victims.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least 2015 through at least 2025, TROUGHT and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the \\u201cElder Fraud Scheme\\u201d), through which TROUGHT and his co-conspirators defrauded more than 200 elderly victims of more than $9 million.\\u0026nbsp; Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name\\u2014e.g., \\u201cDavid Miller\\u201d\\u2014claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.\\u0026nbsp;The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.\\u0026nbsp; Victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, and cash, as well as by wire, Zelle, and Venmo transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT and his co-conspirators also gained control of some victims\\u2019 bank accounts, which they used to transfer money out of and through those accounts.\\u0026nbsp; Victims\\u2019 funds were ultimately transferred to associates of TROUGHT and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business operated by TROUGHT in Jamaica.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETROUGHT, a citizen of Jamaica, operated the Elder Fraud Scheme from Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in both Jamaica and the United States.\\u0026nbsp; TROUGHT joined the fraud ring in or around March 2021 and became one of its leaders.\\u0026nbsp;TROUGHT is being held responsible for more than $6 million stolen from more than 100 victims from March 2021 through TROUGHT\\u2019s arrest in August 2025.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the prison term, TROUGHT, 31, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $6,166,227.00.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation.\\u0026nbsp; Mr.\\u0026nbsp;McDonald\\u0026nbsp;also thanked the\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice\\u2019s Office of International Affairs,\\u0026nbsp;and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing\\u0026nbsp;TROUGHT\\u2019s arrest and extradition.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:37:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789047436\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:35:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789047337\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-253\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jamaican National Sentenced To Eight Years For Role In Sweepstakes Fraud Targeting Older Americans\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/jamaican-national-sentenced-eight-years-role-sweepstakes-fraud-targeting-older\",\"uuid\":\"acd2ab44-a895-426b-be9d-c932094a1333\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u0026nbsp; In April 2026, a federal jury\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-convicted-jury-child-sexual-exploitation-charges\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Lopez-Guevara of 14 counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) \\u2013 Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and State\\u2019s Attorney Tara H. Jackson, Prince George\\u2019s County State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office (PGCSAO).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2024, Lopez-Guevara sexually abused three minors, ranging from 2 to 11 years old at the time of the abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Lopez-Guevara, who lived in Laurel and Baltimore, produced images and videos of himself and the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, many of which were found on the dark web.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, HSI initiated an investigation after its investigators in Portland, Maine, observed previously unseen child sexual abuse videos on the internet.\\u0026nbsp; After identifying Minor Victim 1 in the videos, and determining that he lived in Maryland, investigators quickly referred the matter to HSI Maryland.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI then executed several search warrants in Maryland and discovered Lopez-Guevara in possession of two phones.\\u0026nbsp;Investigators forensically examined the phones and discovered additional images of Lopez-Guevara sexually abusing Minor Victim 1, along with depictions of Lopez-Guevara exploiting Minor Victim 2 and Minor Victim 3. Additionally, investigators found hundreds of CSAM images and videos on the phone associated with an encrypted messaging application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKnow2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\/key-definitions#CSEA\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Echild sexual exploitation and abuse\\u003C\\/a\\u003E; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.\\u0026nbsp; Learn more about Know2Protect at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, BCPD, PGCSAO, for their work in the investigation, along with the Center for Hope, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Victoria Liu who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources\\u0026nbsp;available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:34:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065277\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/honduran-illegal-alien-sentenced-more-six-decades-federal-prison-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"68c2d4bf-fcda-41be-9d27-5f437c0afd0c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cOur state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe, and work hard every day to accomplish that mission, as evidenced by this investigation that led to our successful prosecution. Following the law is not optional, and my office stands ready to hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant used a 3D printer to print machine gun diversion devices for AR-15 rifles and then sold them online. The device inserts into an AR-15 rifle and converts it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. An undercover ATF officer purchased 12 conversion devices from the defendant on two occasions before obtaining a search warrant for his home, where they found the 3D printer, printing material, and 13 additional devices.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Patterson and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:19:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:16:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-firearms-offense\",\"uuid\":\"5a663aec-fe2c-40e4-96bb-b6a144a025df\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 Adam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThrough his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the United States Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, \\u201cToday\\u2019s sentence underscores that we always stand ready\\u2014even years later and on the other side of an ocean\\u2014to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAdam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\u201cThere is nothing honorable about subjecting the most vulnerable in our community to violence and sexual exploitation. We are grateful for the strength and courage of the survivors in this case who came forward to end this man\\u2019s reign of terror.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cSchlueter\\u2019s horrific abuse inflicted lasting trauma on children who should have been protected from harm,\\u201d said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. \\u201cThe FBI will continue to pursue those who prey upon children and hold them accountable for their crimes, no matter how much time has passed. We hope today\\u2019s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims and reinforces that we will never stop fighting to protect children.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From 2009 until 2013, while stationed in Grafenw\\u00f6hr, Germany, Schlueter physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. Schlueter choked and physically beat both minors repeatedly. When one victim was just eight years old, Schlueter pushed her through a second-story window and let her dangle dangerously above the ground. Schlueter sexually assaulted both children when they were under the age of 10. Schlueter used threats of pain and death to dissuade his victims and witnesses from disclosing the abuse to authorities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2014, after discovering Schlueter\\u2019s physical abuse of the children, the U.S. Army discharged Schlueter under Other Than Honorable conditions. In 2021, the Army\\u2019s Criminal Investigations Division learned that Schlueter had also sexually assaulted the child. In 2023, a grand jury returned an indictment against Schlueter pursuant to the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (\\u201cMEJA\\u201d), which is a federal statute that allows the government to prosecute former servicemembers who committed certain crimes outside the United States while serving in the Armed Forces.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, Adam Schlueter, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to life in prison. On April 17, 2026, a jury convicted Schlueter of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Department of the Army \\u2013 Criminal Investigations Division.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Matthew R. LaGrone, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters, and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon provided valuable assistance in the investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:11:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071096\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:07:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070853\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAdam Schlueter, a former enlisted member of the United States Army, was sentenced today to life in federal prison for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of ten, following his conviction at trial.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Soldier Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Minors While Serving Abroad\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/former-soldier-sentenced-life-federal-prison-physically-and-sexually-assaulting-minors\",\"uuid\":\"7845d500-0708-4941-b830-30f288bde6c6\"}]}", "content_length": 97938, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json"}, "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0052 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01RJmKHkJ3ScceEn4o3hJfsi

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01RJmKHkJ3ScceEn4o3hJfsi", "elapsed": 3.513941492, "error": "", "result": {"content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":5},\"executionTime\":2.5378479957580566},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 An Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy,\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E37, living in San Antonio, Texas,\\u0026nbsp;to 30 months\\u2019 imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Chagamreddy was also ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cElder fraud schemes are despicable, calculated attacks that prey on some of the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community. In this case, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa used fear to deceive and extort a Vietnam veteran who served our country,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. \\u201cBecause the victim came forward, and thanks to law enforcement\\u2019s coordinated, swift response and the efforts of AUSAs Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster, Chagamreddy was brought to justice. Our office remains committed to protecting older Americans from predatory fraud and ensuring foreign scammers who take advantage of their country\\u2019s immigration system are held fully accountable for their crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn August 2025, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with \\u201cMicrosoft,\\u201d the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. Someone then contacted the victim and identified themselves as a federal officer, providing a false badge number.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being \\u201cinvestigated,\\u201d and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.\\u0026nbsp;The elderly victim was transferred to the \\u201cTreasury Department\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;and told he needed to transfer his money into gold and that an \\u201cofficer\\u201d would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed over the package.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA few days later, the fake federal officer contacted the victim again and demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office. With the victim\\u0027s cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup. When Chagamreddy arrived at the victim\\u2019s home at the scheduled time and date, he was arrested. Evidence presented to the jury showed that he had $500 in cash, a cell phone, and 23 ounces of gold in\\u0026nbsp;the vehicle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn agent testified about the messaging found on Chagamreddy\\u2019s phone. The exhibits shown to the jury clearly show he worked with another individual to defraud numerous victims within 48 hours. The agent testified that Chagamreddy flew from Austin to North Carolina, where he picked up gold from an 87-year-old woman. Trial evidence showed that after delivering the gold to a different co-conspirator, Chagamreddy sent a photo of a dollar bill with \\u201c29 oz rec 3000 paid\\u201d written on it.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe messages indicate that the following day, Chagamreddy drove from Austin, Texas, to Andale, Kansas, starting at 1:21 am. Throughout the drive, Chagamreddy would provide status updates, including screenshots of his location and fuel levels, to the co-conspirator. Upon arrival, Chagamreddy booked a hotel room to rest for a few hours and then drove to the destination he had been directed to. The co-conspirator described the 75-year-old woman from whom Chagamreddy would be picking up gold. Chagamreddy then sent the co-conspirator a photo of a sealed box with a message that read, \\u201c23 Oz.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter completing that trip, the agent testified that the messaging showed that Chagamreddy then drove to Delaware County, Oklahoma. The co-conspirator described the 79-year-old that he would be getting gold from and provided a photo of the victim, who was visibly wearing a Vietnam veteran shirt. The agent explained that the victim lived alone on a rural road and that Chagamreddy was actively providing photos, showing that he was lost. After finding the location, Chagamreddy provided one photo confirming that he arrived and was detained shortly after by Delaware County Sheriff\\u2019s deputies.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn 2025, the Department of Justice\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/media\\/1416301\\/dl?inline\\u0022\\u003Ereported\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;to Congress that it took more than 280 enforcement actions against more than 600 defendants, many of whom were in the United States illegally or were extradited to be prosecuted. Collectively, the defendants attempted to steal, or stole, over $2.3 billion from more than one million Americans. The Department pursued more than 40 types of elder fraud. Investment fraud ranked number one, with more than $1.8 billion in losses, followed by fraudulent tech support at $982 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Elder Justice Initiative\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/about-elder-abuse\\u0022\\u003Ewebsite\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;provides several scenarios and red flags to help educate yourself and loved ones about the types of abuse, including financial exploitation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChagamreddy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDelaware County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Attorney General\\u2019s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETo find help or report elder abuse, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)\\u0026nbsp;10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday \\u2013 Friday. Elder Justice Neighborhood Resources for Oklahoma are available\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/elderjustice\\/support\\/resources-neighborhood?field_state=OK\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:41:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072908\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:34:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072468\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Indian Citizen residing in the United States on a student visa was sentenced today after a jury convicted him of conspiring to defraud a Vietnam Veteran in April 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Indian Citizen in the United States on Student Visa Sentenced for Defrauding a Vietnam Veteran\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\",\"name\":\"Elder Justice\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/indian-citizen-united-states-student-visa-sentenced-defrauding-vietnam-veteran\",\"uuid\":\"ba0d8869-9d09-4e0d-b49a-7e9cb1eb7e95\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:15:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067733\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\u2013\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years\\u2019 probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. \\u0026nbsp;According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edok\\/pr\\/atoka-resident-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\",\"uuid\":\"a23a4440-3e66-4f95-ad57-4aaf38334ed3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E appointment for four minors in Madison County.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor\\u2019s deceased father.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor\\u2019s account without special order from the court.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that during his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Eappointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors\\u2019 bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors\\u2019 accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EElliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors\\u2019 accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cConduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056050\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/former-bethalto-attorney-accused-stealing-over-400000-minor-clients\",\"uuid\":\"5318c323-fc31-43a3-a20c-982b0fcaded7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate\\u2019s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate\\u2019s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlthough Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDanks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A.\\u0026nbsp;Bashant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EDEFENDANT\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDonald Danks\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;Age: 69\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp; Irvine, CA\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EConspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 371\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWitness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1512(b)(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EObstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1503\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPerjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7 1623(a)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMaximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCY\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:50:41-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077041\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:48:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789076917\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"CAS26-0910-Danks\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\u2013 Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\",\"name\":\"Securities, Commodities, \\u0026 Investment Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdca\\/pr\\/former-director-nasdaq-company-convicted-securities-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"6b563bf0-0bc4-4013-acf6-71439e238bc8\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn illegal alien who returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced yesterday to three months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMario Noel Rodriguez Castillo, age 51, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Iowa City, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 30, 2026, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the guilty plea, Rodriguez Castillo admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.\\u0026nbsp; Rodriguez Castillo was previously deported in 1996, 2002, and 2005.\\u0026nbsp; On May 21, 2026, immigration officials learned Rodriguez Castillo had illegally returned to the United States and found him at the Johnson County Jail following his arrest on state charges.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo was previously convicted of drug trafficking charges in Utah in 1996 and 1997.\\u0026nbsp; In 1998 he was convicted of reentry of a deported alien in federal court in Utah.\\u0026nbsp; In 2003, he was convicted of deported alien found in the United States in federal court in California.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.\\u0026nbsp; Rodriguez Castillo was sentenced to 94 days\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ERodriguez Castillo is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/dag\\/media\\/1393746\\/dl?inline\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\u003C\\/a\\u003E,\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 26-cr-44.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:36:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058179\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:32:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789057941\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Reentering the United States After Being Deported Three Times\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-prison-reentering-united-states-after-being-deported-three\",\"uuid\":\"6a0d22f7-ff31-4c72-a806-7e304a6fca53\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; WASHINGTON \\u2013 Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. \\u0026nbsp;After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree\\u0027s vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. \\u0026nbsp;The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams\\u2019 Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams\\u2019s Ford Raptor.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee\\u2019s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency\\u2019s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E25cr163\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:27:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075668\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:24:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075464\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/district-man-sentenced-possession-firearm-after-ditching-cocaine-trafficking-evidence\",\"uuid\":\"3961ffa0-9d1c-4496-9b1d-eb21a1ea345a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man who received and possessed child pornography was sentenced today to more than 27 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMatthew Jason Manos, age 42, from Coggon, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 11, 2026, jury verdict finding him guilty of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, including a depiction of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe evidence at trial and sentencing showed that in February 2023, law enforcement officers searched Manos\\u2019s residence in Coggon and took his cell phone.\\u0026nbsp; Between December 2022 and February 2023, Manos had downloaded images of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; He viewed the images on his cell phone multiple times.\\u0026nbsp; Manos then fled Iowa, abandoning his pets in his home where the pets were later rescued by law enforcement.\\u0026nbsp; Manos ultimately moved to Illinois, where he was arrested in August 2023.\\u0026nbsp; During his arrest, law enforcement officers took his new cell phone.\\u0026nbsp; Evidence showed that Manos had used that new phone to access child pornography as well.\\u0026nbsp; Manos was previously convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, lascivious acts with a child, lascivious conduct with a child, dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors, and indecent exposure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.usdoj.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E and click on the tab \\u201cresources.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.\\u0026nbsp; Manos was sentenced to 327 months\\u2019 imprisonment and was ordered to make $3,000 in restitution to a victim in the case.\\u0026nbsp; He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EManos is being held in the United States Marshal\\u2019s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T.\\u0026nbsp;Hake and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Cedar Rapids Police Department, with assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case file number is 25-CR-14.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFollow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:26:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151169\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T14:24:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789151080\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Coggon Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/coggon-man-sentenced-decades-prison-child-pornography-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"00ab1f33-5279-42bc-b6c0-bfb082af2d98\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EUnited States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:54:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789048448\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T09:19:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789046373\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECOLUMBIA, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\",\"name\":\"Identity Theft\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/mexican-national-sentenced-2-years-federal-prison-identity-theft-and-passport-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"650f85a3-d253-4238-bc6e-06b781dad42d\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1461006\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"3ee17930-a689-449b-92f6-39b6710d6b6c\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits, LLC (\\u201cSouthern Glazer\\u2019s\\u201d), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation involved Southern Glazer\\u2019s executives and employees funding and concealing improper payments and benefits to employees of alcohol retailers, including chain grocery stores in California and elsewhere.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn the agreement, Southern Glazer\\u2019s admitted to and acknowledged responsibility for the acts of individuals employed by the company, which included years of improper payments and benefits to various alcohol retailer employees in connection with the promotion, purchase, maintenance, and placement of certain alcohol products distributed by Southern Glazer\\u2019s, and the use of third-party vendors and false invoices generated to conceal the practice. \\u0026nbsp;Several Southern Glazer\\u2019s executives based in California, including several Vice Presidents, were directly involved in the conduct, which included substantial cash payments, prepaid gift cards, flights, golf trips, resort stays, and luxury goods, along with participation in the falsification of documents.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to Southern Glazer\\u2019s monetary payment of $12.5 million to the United States, among other things, the company agreed to implement robust steps to enhance compliance with federal and state laws prohibiting bribery and other improper payments and also agreed to continue to cooperate with the government in connection with any criminal prosecutions related to the matter, including against current or former employees of the company.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOne of government\\u2019s top jobs is to ensure a level playing field for American business. Southern Glazer\\u2019s employees tried to distort the wine and spirits market in California through bribes and other improper conduct and in the end it was the consumer that lost out,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian. \\u201cOur office takes this kind of conduct seriously and we are committed to making sure everyone plays by the same rules, which will mean lower prices and more choices for the California consumer. By refusing to compete honestly, the company didn\\u2019t just harm its competitors and consumers \\u2014 it struck at the heart of the American tradition of fair and open competition.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s announcement of this agreement is a testament to IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to holding accountable companies like Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits who engaged in dishonest business practices that circumvented trade practice regulations and internal controls,\\u201d said Kareem Carter, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. \\u201cThis investigation is an excellent example of the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to address complex illicit financial activity by holding those responsible to account for their actions.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTTB takes trade practice enforcement seriously to ensure that all industry members operate under the same rules and that law abiding businesses do not lose competitive ground because of the illegal actions of a few,\\u201d said Anthony P. Gledhill, Assistant Administrator, Field Operations, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). \\u0026nbsp;\\u201cThis case serves as an important reminder that industry members are accountable not only for their own conduct, but also for the actions taken on their behalf by third party affiliates. Third parties, likewise, are responsible for any illegal activities they carry out on behalf of an industry member.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was handled by the National Security, Cyber \\u0026amp; Special Prosecutions Section of the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of California. \\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Sampson and Sailaja Paidipaty investigated the case with the assistance of Helen Yee and Maryam Beros. \\u0026nbsp;The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 CI and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau with support from the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/usao-ndca\\/media\\/1461006\\/dl?inline\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022media\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u00223ee17930-a689-449b-92f6-39b6710d6b6c\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022media_download_inline\\u0022 title=\\u0022Southern Glazer\\u2019s Agreement\\u0022\\u003ESouthern Glazer\\u2019s NPA\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:19:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789082385\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9562bf08-d474-4f10-a607-87ba645cee03\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:27:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789079279\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESAN FRANCISCO - Southern Glazer\\u2019s Wine and Spirits, LLC (\\u201cSouthern Glazer\\u2019s\\u201d), a nationwide alcohol distributor headquartered in Florida, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, and agreed to make a monetary payment of $12.5 million and other remedies to resolve the investigation\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nationwide Alcohol Distributor Agrees To Pay Over $12 Million To Resolve Federal Investigation Into Bribery And False Invoicing Practices\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndca\\/pr\\/nationwide-alcohol-distributor-agrees-pay-over-12-million-resolve-federal\",\"uuid\":\"652edf5c-d969-42ef-b277-db66cf85e13a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERobert J. Fundermann, age 50, from Anthon, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 10, 2026, to eighteen and a half years\\u2019 imprisonment.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on February 5, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEvidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2023 through April 2025, Fundermann distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of child pornography.\\u0026nbsp; Further evidence showed that Fundermann was grooming a 17-year-old to obtain images and videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.\\u0026nbsp; A review of Fundermann\\u2019s phone showed he possessed 54 images and 98 videos of child pornography, involving material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.\\u0026nbsp; The investigation also revealed that Fundermann was previously convicted for soliciting nude images from a minor in 2019.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov\\/PSC.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Fundermann to 222 months\\u2019 imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release.\\u0026nbsp; Fundermann remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.\\u0026nbsp; Court file information at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The case file number is 25-4039.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Woodbury County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:21:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075268\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:20:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789075225\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Anthon, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndia\\/pr\\/anthon-iowa-man-sentenced-over-18-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"8d1ffaae-440d-4f3c-86b7-3112893b125a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. \\u0026nbsp;Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECarfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. \\u0026nbsp;Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. \\u0026nbsp;The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. \\u0026nbsp;Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e6e13f1e08a208e08bb89bef8e1a1ec03\\u0022\\u003EOn April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e10a3330bdf28a5c5dce72319283b7eab\\u0022\\u003EOn December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e704a9ef458b7501bacb095c8248a575d\\u0022\\u003EOn December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022eb99672574729f3a26d18ed5be691e796\\u0022\\u003EOn January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e51e131cc41b52f17370dd35d27c5b1b7\\u0022\\u003EOn January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e851604b39eb6ad088ddf0d29143a815a\\u0022\\u003EOn January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months\\u2019 imprisonment and 5 years\\u2019 supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. \\u0026nbsp;Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. \\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. \\u0026nbsp;The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\u0026nbsp;HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of Hawaii.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:59:59-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T20:55:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789088126\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHONOLULU \\u2013 United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/honolulu-man-involved-trans-pacific-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-10-years\",\"uuid\":\"6d3494ef-6812-4725-9a23-a56ee306fd4c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos A. Grijalva, age 60, of Simi Valley, California, was sentenced yesterday to 72 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $46.4 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Grijalva previously pleaded guilty\\u0026nbsp;and admitted that he and his coconspirators, Brian R. Cleland, age 72, and Bruce Jin, age 61, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds, and other public funds, through fraudulent means.\\u0026nbsp; Grijalva, Cleland, and Jin, and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment. The funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived mostly from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (\\u201cUC\\u201d) benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnnamed members of the conspiracy, including some believed to be in China, established thousands of accounts at banks across the United States using the personal identifying information (\\u201cPII\\u201d) of identity theft victims. From there, fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts, including accounts in the names of people residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. These fraudulent UC claims were also generated by fraudsters based in China. As a result of this fraudulent activity, tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent UC payments were made by Pennsylvania and other states.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter UC funds were paid out, they were then transferred from identity theft victims\\u2019 accounts to companies controlled by Grijalva, Cleland, and Jin. Grijalva and Cleland, for instance, used ACH processing\\u2014a type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer\\u2014to obtain over $46 million in fraudulent funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. This money mostly went from the accounts of identity theft victims to companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service, Group Mex USA, CCB Group, and GC Accounting. After that, Grijalva and Cleland transferred over $30 million to Jin\\u2019s companies, knowing that some of the funds were then going to be transferred to parties located in China.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGrijalva was also ordered to pay certain property forfeitures, including approximately $46.4 million in US currency, as well as the contents of several bank accounts and real properties located in Hawaii and California that were purchased using funds traceable to the charged offenses. One of these properties, located in California, was purchased in the name of one of Grijalva\\u2019s family members.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJin was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 144 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit over $59 million in US currency, along with other properties.\\u0026nbsp; Cleland was sentenced on May 14, 2026, to 120 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit approximately $46.4 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe are prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:29:53-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789054193\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:28:03-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789054083\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"California Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining $46 Million In Public Benefits and Laundering Proceeds to China\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/california-man-sentenced-72-months-prison-fraudulently-obtaining-46-million-public\",\"uuid\":\"46f70a1f-5946-4a84-9dd8-bc56cec09552\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Thomas Twilley, 30, sexually abused a child, took sexually explicit photos of the child, and shared the photos with an administrator of a CSAM network online.\\u0026nbsp; Law enforcement estimates the victim was a young child when the material was produced.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETwilley is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2251(a), and distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\u00a7\\u0026nbsp;2252(a)(2) \\u0026amp; (b)(1).\\u0026nbsp;If convicted, Twilley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\u0026nbsp;HSI investigated the case with assistance from Delaware Child Predator Task Force and Delaware State Police.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\u0022\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003EDistrict Court\\u003C\\/a\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\u0022\\u003EPACER\\u003C\\/a\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-480.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:44:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789058659\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\",\"name\":\"USAO - Delaware\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:55:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055735\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFederal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Bridgeville Man Arrested for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-de\\/pr\\/bridgeville-man-arrested-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"c51bd9d7-d407-4eae-a2c0-8664d65e5a3a\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ESANTA ANA, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJulie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMolina is charged with four counts of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit\\u2019s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group\\u2019s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit\\u2019s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit\\u2019s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI is investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:21:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053695\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-158\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/former-treasurer-orange-county-high-school-football-booster-club-arrested-allegedly\",\"uuid\":\"67abfdd8-940f-4080-91bf-e75123b5b729\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cOur state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe, and work hard every day to accomplish that mission, as evidenced by this investigation that led to our successful prosecution. Following the law is not optional, and my office stands ready to hold offenders accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that the defendant used a 3D printer to print machine gun diversion devices for AR-15 rifles and then sold them online. The device inserts into an AR-15 rifle and converts it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. An undercover ATF officer purchased 12 conversion devices from the defendant on two occasions before obtaining a search warrant for his home, where they found the 3D printer, printing material, and 13 additional devices.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved an investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Patterson and Walter E. Narramore.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:19:47-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049987\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:16:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049782\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Alaisjah Perkins, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for possessing unregistered firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-firearms-offense\",\"uuid\":\"5a663aec-fe2c-40e4-96bb-b6a144a025df\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC \\u2014 a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government\\u2019s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlong with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E11 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, more than \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E8 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/florida-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-nationwide-tax-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E51 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the \\u201cEscrow Trust Refund\\u201d program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds \\u2014 between 25 and 40 percent \\u2014 into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/four-individuals-oahu-sentenced-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock (\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/hawaii-woman-sentenced-27-months-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E27 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:22:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053754\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:03:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1036\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/hawaii-couple-sentenced-prison-roles-nationwide-tax-refund-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"c45961e0-3b81-4064-b3b8-2953d46777eb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE.\\u202fThe defendant got in the victim\\u2019s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back \\u2013 including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same\\u0026nbsp;gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent\\u2019s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF1 006346\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:14:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:12:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-dc-man-guilty-2024-stabbing-death\",\"uuid\":\"c0817b47-17c4-4b61-b72e-f8caa76b4456\"}]}", "content_length": 97501, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json"}, "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0055 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_012Lm1aNDJqjKDJfd15WoPwk

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_012Lm1aNDJqjKDJfd15WoPwk", "elapsed": 3.646844898, "error": "", "result": {"content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":6},\"executionTime\":2.5429489612579346},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics.\\u0026nbsp;These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts\\u0026nbsp;was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based\\u0026nbsp;cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled through Holguin Mendez\\u2019s account\\u0026nbsp;from March 2023 to May 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Homeland Security Task Force continues to disrupt drug money laundering organizations, as is alleged in the indictment of a $135 million scheme orchestrated by Holguin Mendez,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. \\u201cLaw enforcement will work together across domestic and international borders to trace illegal drug profits to investigate and prosecute narcotics dealers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant, as alleged in the indictment, backchanneled approximately $135 million of illegal drug proceeds tied to Upstate South Carolina,\\u201d said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. \\u201cThe FBI, along with our HSTF partners, is on a continuous mission to identify, investigate, and prosecute every criminal involved in large-scale drug operations from the dealers to the money facilitators. We are committed to making our communities safe and removing the threat of cartels.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHolguin Mendez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and is currently detained pending trial.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EThe case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura is prosecuting the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003E\\u003Cbr\\u003EAll charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:06:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063603\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Carolina\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789063278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EGREENVILLE, S.C.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2014 A federal grand jury in Greenville\\u0026nbsp;returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sc\\/pr\\/colombian-national-indicted-homeland-security-task-force-investigation-135m-money\",\"uuid\":\"56e7b3ab-5021-464e-a77c-d6c6bd3d03d1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC \\u2014 a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government\\u2019s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlong with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E11 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, more than \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/archives\\/opa\\/pr\\/two-promoters-nationwide-tax-scheme-sentenced-prison\\u0022\\u003E8 years\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison, and \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/florida-man-sentenced-prison-promoting-nationwide-tax-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E51 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the \\u201cEscrow Trust Refund\\u201d program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds \\u2014 between 25 and 40 percent \\u2014 into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/four-individuals-oahu-sentenced-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003Esentenced\\u003C\\/a\\u003E to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock (\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-hi\\/pr\\/hawaii-woman-sentenced-27-months-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\u0022\\u003E27 months\\u003C\\/a\\u003E in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:22:34-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053754\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\",\"name\":\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3abd7d2-9ac8-4999-8c4c-3649a3c0bd3c\",\"name\":\"USAO - Hawaii\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:03:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052615\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1036\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\",\"name\":\"Tax\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/hawaii-couple-sentenced-prison-roles-nationwide-tax-refund-fraud-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"c45961e0-3b81-4064-b3b8-2953d46777eb\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\u2013 A man required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today for knowingly failing to register that he was living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced James Robert Hurley, aka Daniel Gomes, 25, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hurley was ordered to serve 21 months\\u0027 imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Hurley was convicted in 2021 for soliciting sexually explicit images from a 12-year-old. As a result, Hurley was sentenced in tribal court to a three-year suspended sentence and ordered to register as a sex offender. Three months after receiving his sex offense conviction, Hurley was charged in state court for obstruction and public intoxication, and the tribal court filed a motion to revoke his suspended sentence. Hurley failed to appear in both cases, and warrants were issued for his arrest. He was eventually detained, and the tribal court revoked his suspended sentence and ordered Hurley to serve\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cbr\\u003Ethree years\\u0027 imprisonment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAfter being released from prison, Hurley knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. Court documents show that after being released from prison, Hurley married his spouse, claiming his name as Hurley. However, Hurley was born \\u201cDaniel Gomes\\u201d and has never legally changed his name. Hurley\\u2019s criminal history under the name \\u201cGomes\\u201d includes convictions for third-degree burglary, carrying a weapon unlawfully, unauthorized use of a vehicle, second-degree burglary, obstructing an officer, and public intoxication in Oklahoma and joyriding in Tennessee. His spouse was granted an annulment because Hurley made false representations and deceived her.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHurley is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led\\u0026nbsp;by U.S. Attorneys\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to\\u0026nbsp;identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/PSC\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EJustice.gov\\/PSC\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067004\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\"},{\"uuid\":\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\",\"name\":\"U.S. Marshals Service\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:57:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789066630\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA man required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today for knowingly failing to register that he was living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Sex Offender Living in Mayes and Tulsa Counties Sentenced for Failing to Register\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndok\\/pr\\/sex-offender-living-mayes-and-tulsa-counties-sentenced-failing-register\",\"uuid\":\"402f6179-e5a2-47a0-bf90-968144605855\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Haneef Palmer, aka \\u201cLew,\\u201d 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $1,080,786.44 in restitution by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his central role in a large-scale cargo theft conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe defendant was charged by superseding indictment in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to one count each of conspiracy, robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), possession of items from interstate shipment theft, theft of government money, and possession of stolen government money, and five counts of theft from an interstate shipment.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs detailed in court filings and statements, between January 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, Palmer conspired with co-defendants to steal goods moving as parts of interstate shipments located on tractor trailers around Philadelphia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWhile a trailer was unattended overnight, or while the driver was asleep, the members of the conspiracy participating in the theft would use bolt cutters and other tools to break into the trailer and steal the goods inside. The members of the conspiracy would then offer the goods for sale to local contacts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmong other acts, Palmer admitted to participating in the robbery of a tractor trailer carrying commercial refrigerators on April 1, 2023, during which he and others attacked and injured the driver, and to participating in the theft of over $230,000 worth of U.S. dimes on April 13, 2023. The members of the conspiracy committed numerous other thefts, stealing goods with a total estimated value of more than $1.5 million from more than 10 victims.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Bowerman and Christopher Diviny.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:09:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789164558\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-11T18:06:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789164416\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Key Role in Large-Scale Cargo Thefts\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edpa\\/pr\\/philadelphia-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-key-role-large-scale-cargo-thefts\",\"uuid\":\"6cd73863-e557-47ea-90c1-0d79eb94d783\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bobbie Jerome Newton, age 32, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for failure to register as a sex offender.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Newton was convicted in 2018 of statutory sexual assault and related offenses. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2024, Newton cut off the GPS ankle monitor that Pennsylvania state probation required him to wear and traveled across state lines to Baltimore, Maryland, where he took up residence. He did not update his registration to reflect that move, as required by law.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis\\u0026nbsp;case\\u0026nbsp;was\\u0026nbsp;investigated\\u0026nbsp;by\\u0026nbsp;the\\u0026nbsp;United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp;Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Michael Scalera\\u0026nbsp;prosecuted\\u0026nbsp;the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:01:18-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056078\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:30-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender \",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdpa\\/pr\\/waynesboro-man-sentenced-30-months-prison-failure-register-sex-offender\",\"uuid\":\"ed2ddc5f-b550-47f7-8003-22f312a6e1ff\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years\\u2019 probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1\\/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello\\u2019s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:09:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081786\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T19:05:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789081527\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/prior-sex-offender-going-prison-new-child-pornography-charge\",\"uuid\":\"4c3e49ce-9482-4b78-ae06-b5f629e14a6e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESTATESBORO, Georgia:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003EA defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe\\u0026nbsp;sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDeivon Waller\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cHitman,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cVP\\u201d, 32, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and a $2,000 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWaller was a co-conspirator in a network of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, and various other Georgia state prisons beginning as early as 2019 and continuing through July 2024.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAmongst more than 20 defendants, six were not in Department of Corrections custody at any time during the conspiracies, and each of them is alleged to have been in contact with incarcerated co-defendants in furtherance of the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditional defendants associated with the operation have also been sentenced, they include:\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cul\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e59d7391fdc84bb90de9edf693a34b5ca\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKelvin Rogers\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cGangsta,\\u201d 40, an inmate at the Smith State Prison, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $500 fine followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e11e7cf5f0af209de69bdbe2d1afb2b65\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETristahn Ash\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMohawk,\\u201d 29, an inmate in the Georgia Department of Corrections, was sentenced to 92 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022e0ec44825689589b4b9e09f7403884c31\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAsa James Ward\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cFoolay,\\u201d 30, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ul\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMore than a dozen additional co-conspirators await sentencing while others have upcoming trials in federal court for various charges including, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is but one step of many to bring these defendants to justice in a widespread conspiracy,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cWe commend the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose collaborative work unraveled this criminal scheme.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cPrisons should not be targets for sophisticated drug trafficking operations,\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\u201cThis investigation exposed an effort to use technology to circumvent security and deliver dangerous drugs and contraband behind prison walls. DEA\\u2019s commitment to pursuing those responsible does not stop at the prison gate.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations Division, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lowndes County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Telfair County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Tattnall County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, Cobb County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the McRae-Helena Police Department, and the Eufaula, Ala., Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIdentifying and managing those participating in criminal activity using contraband cell phones introduced into our facilities via drone or otherwise, is paramount in our commitment to public safety,\\u201d said GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cWe appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served\\u0026nbsp;on these individuals for their role in jeopardizing the safe operations of our facilities, and most importantly, the safety of the public.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Dean and Criminal AUSA Chief Patricia G. Rhodes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056573\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:06:46-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052806\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"83-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty in Georgia prison drug trafficking conspiracy\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-georgia-prison-drug-trafficking-conspiracy\",\"uuid\":\"317a00d4-4b30-4a30-8a39-bca1c88fc824\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ENEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Ctable class=\\u0022table\\u0022 border=\\u00221\\u0022 cellspacing=\\u00220\\u0022 cellpadding=\\u00220\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Ctbody\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDefendant\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECharge(s)\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESentence\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJose Buval, 35, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) \\u0026amp; Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E19 years, 2 months\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ECesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine \\u0026amp; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E15 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EBrandon Bowman, 32, Seymour\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EMaking a false statement during the purchase of a firearm \\u0026amp; Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJames McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E4 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003ERobert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EPossession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E5 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E10 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003Ctr\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EJorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003EDistribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003Ctd style=\\u0022width:213px;\\u0022\\u003E13 years\\u2019 imprisonment, 5 years supervised release\\u003C\\/td\\u003E\\u003C\\/tr\\u003E\\u003C\\/tbody\\u003E\\u003C\\/table\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir\\u2019s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOver the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff\\u2019s Department, Hamilton\\/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThese sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,\\u201d said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. \\u201cHSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\u201cOur special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We\\u2019re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,\\u201d said Greg O\\u2019Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. \\u201cWithout these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn\\u2019t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThese prosecutions\\u0026nbsp;are\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the\\u0026nbsp;Southern District of Indiana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E###\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:09:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056571\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\",\"name\":\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:03:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056236\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdin\\/pr\\/seven-including-el-salvadoran-national-sentenced-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"3e2d31d9-f117-4adc-8e20-fe728d6fa189\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ENote, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETestimony at trial showed that Johnson \\u2014 who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses \\u2014 had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran \\u201cKrazyside Kennels\\u201d referred to his new operation as \\u201cMal Kant Kennels.\\u201d The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460961\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture1.png?itok=i4326WoJ\\u0022 width=\\u0022308\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460966\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/Picture2.png?itok=Iu_huexy\\u0022 width=\\u0022307\\u0022 height=\\u0022315\\u0022 alt=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022 title=\\u0022screengrab of dog2\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cem\\u003EScreen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cAs Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.\\u0026nbsp;To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can\\u2019t hide from the Department of Justice.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cLeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\u201cWe are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. \\u201cI applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. \\u201cThe FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney\\u0027s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAt trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as \\u201cchampions\\u201d and \\u201cgrand champions,\\u201d meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and \\u201cstud fees\\u201d for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI\\u2019s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD\\u2019s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:11:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074702\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\",\"name\":\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"f979c7d0-a090-4fd2-9712-db78eb905a94\",\"name\":\"ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\",\"name\":\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\"},{\"uuid\":\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:39:56-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789072796\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460961\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"751cf611-b05a-49ab-ae61-41447fabe1f8\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460966\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c6985aba-8b1e-4fa7-a885-c1527d42226c\"},\"alt\":\"screengrab of dog2\",\"title\":\"screengrab of dog2\"}],\"number\":\"26-1042\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EFormer NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"81e06cc2-8cd6-4ed0-b996-a226abd196b9\",\"name\":\"Animal Welfare\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/former-nfl-player-sentenced-5-years-prison-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and\",\"uuid\":\"50446941-bded-4e90-a5c0-fea110b9a7a1\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret.\\u0026nbsp; Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024.\\u0026nbsp; On that date, investigators searched Baret\\u2019s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin.\\u0026nbsp; He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.doj.nh.gov\\/news-and-media\\/drug-surveillance-operation-lebanon-new-hampshire\\u0022\\u003Eon separate\\u0026nbsp;charges\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBaret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:12:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074774\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\",\"name\":\"USAO - Connecticut\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T17:09:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789074559\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\",\"name\":\"Asset Forfeiture\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\",\"name\":\"Opioids\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ct\\/pr\\/hartford-drug-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"0ed98f11-1db9-471e-bfd5-646c331f61e3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ECONCORD \\u2013 Matthew Schnell, 45, of Bellingham, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 71 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESchnell pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis defendant helped run a major operation trafficking dangerous drugs out of central New Hampshire and will now be held accountable,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Creegan. \\u201cDue to strong partnership with our state and local law enforcement counterparts, we were able to take down this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Our office will continue to pursue those who bring harm and destructive addiction to our communities.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cMatthew Schnell is now behind bars for facilitating a substantial drug trafficking organization that pushed pounds of methamphetamine into New Hampshire, fueling addiction, violence, and instability in our neighborhoods,\\u201d said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\u2019s Boston Division. \\u201cLet this hefty sentence be a warning to others who think they can profit from flooding our streets with dangerous drugs and escape responsibility. The FBI and our partners will find you and ensure you are brought to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2022, the FBI\\u2019s New Hampshire Major Offender Task Force, and the New Hampshire State Police (\\u201cNHSP\\u201d) began investigating a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in New Hampshire. The investigation revealed that Schnell obtained methamphetamine from suppliers and then would provide methamphetamine to Thomas Conway for further distribution in New Hampshire. Phone calls and text messages intercepted during the investigation confirmed that the defendant worked as Conway\\u2019s primary supplier and business partner. For example, in one conversation, Schnell, Conway, and another co-conspirator discussed the need to need to restructure their drug trafficking organization to ensure a sufficient drug supply. In multiple other intercepted communications, Schnell discussed obtaining multiple pound quantities of methamphetamine for Conway. Law enforcement later seized drugs before they could be distributed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force in partnership with the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. The Concord Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and New Hampton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of New Hampshire\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the District of New Hampshire.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:55:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055738\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\",\"name\":\"USAO - New Hampshire\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:53:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789055599\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-nh\\/pr\\/massachusetts-man-sentenced-nearly-six-years-trafficking-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"ebdee0b2-e7ad-4c2f-9884-fe6aa17a5e9c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn that the United States intends to forfeit\\u0026nbsp;the proceeds traceable to the offenses.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn were the founders, registered agents, or officers of several entities, including RAD Diversified REIT, RADD Capital, The Seminar Solution, and DHI Holdings. The employees of these entities could participate in the companies\\u2019 401(k) retirement plan and health insurance plan by having funds directly withheld from their paychecks. Beginning in the spring of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds that were being withheld from their employees\\u2019 paychecks to the 401(k) plan. Then beginning in September of 2024, Mendenhall and Vaughn stopped contributing the funds being withheld from their employee\\u2019s paychecks to the company\\u2019s health insurance plan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is\\u0026nbsp;presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Labor \\u2013 Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service \\u2013 Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation \\u2013 Bureau of Financial Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T13:06:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059976\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:50:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789059024\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ETampa, Florida \\u2013 United States Attorney\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe announces the\\u0026nbsp; unsealing of an indictment charging Brandon \\u201cDutch\\u201d Mendenhall (47,\\u0026nbsp;Brandon, Florida) and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn (48, New Port Richey, Florida) with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. If convicted,\\u0026nbsp;Mendenhall and Vaughn each face a maximum penalty of\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"RAD Diversified REIT Co-Founders Indicted for Stealing Funds from Their Employees\\u2019 Benefit Plans\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdfl\\/pr\\/rad-diversified-reit-co-founders-indicted-stealing-funds-their-employees-benefit-plans\",\"uuid\":\"db552d61-470f-4192-905a-daa9f2432448\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013 David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the government\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE.\\u202fThe defendant got in the victim\\u2019s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back \\u2013 including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKey was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same\\u0026nbsp;gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent\\u2019s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E2024 CF1 006346\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:14:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078475\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:12:10-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789078330\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/jury-finds-dc-man-guilty-2024-stabbing-death\",\"uuid\":\"c0817b47-17c4-4b61-b72e-f8caa76b4456\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EST. LOUIS \\u2013 A man who possessed child sexual abuse material and uploaded it to Snapchat was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua J. Klenke, 21, of St. Charles, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Snapchat. After an investigation sparked by CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, investigators found videos and pictures containing CSAM on Klenke\\u2019s phone, as well as a picture of him kissing a 4-year-old girl on the lips. Klenke, who worked for a cleaning company, encountered the girl in a client\\u2019s home.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe St. Charles County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:20:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789071623\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\",\"name\":\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:00:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070445\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EJoshua J. Klenke admitted uploading child sexual abuse material to Snapchat and kissing a 4-year-old.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"St. Charles, Missouri Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edmo\\/pr\\/st-charles-missouri-man-sentenced-14-years-prison\",\"uuid\":\"fcba41e0-f564-490d-833e-a45a4379daaa\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cOur Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cToday\\u2019s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, \\u201cdead serious,\\u201d and demanded \\u201cloose bills\\u201d in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10.\\u0026nbsp; The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee.\\u0026nbsp; In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ENYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later.\\u0026nbsp; After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe government\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s General Crimes Section.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EThe Defendant\\u003C\\/u\\u003E:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EPIERRE LEE\\u003Cbr\\u003EAge: 43\\u003Cbr\\u003EZebulon, NC\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:11:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067479\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:03:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789067028\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPierre Lee, also known as \\u201cPierre Wilmoth,\\u201d was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.\\u0026nbsp; The charge relates to Lee\\u2019s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery).\\u0026nbsp; The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.\\u0026nbsp; Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery\\u2014including the Capital One Attempted Robbery\\u2014and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction).\\u0026nbsp; The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn.\\u0026nbsp; When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-found-guilty-using-firearm-during-brooklyn-attempted-bank-robbery\",\"uuid\":\"16b23235-1254-4110-b793-7eea839c1c66\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\u0026nbsp; In April 2026, a federal jury\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/illegal-alien-convicted-jury-child-sexual-exploitation-charges\\u0022\\u003Econvicted\\u003C\\/a\\u003E Lopez-Guevara of 14 counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) \\u2013 Maryland; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and State\\u2019s Attorney Tara H. Jackson, Prince George\\u2019s County State\\u2019s Attorney\\u2019s Office (PGCSAO).\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and 2024, Lopez-Guevara sexually abused three minors, ranging from 2 to 11 years old at the time of the abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Lopez-Guevara, who lived in Laurel and Baltimore, produced images and videos of himself and the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, many of which were found on the dark web.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn December 2024, HSI initiated an investigation after its investigators in Portland, Maine, observed previously unseen child sexual abuse videos on the internet.\\u0026nbsp; After identifying Minor Victim 1 in the videos, and determining that he lived in Maryland, investigators quickly referred the matter to HSI Maryland.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHSI then executed several search warrants in Maryland and discovered Lopez-Guevara in possession of two phones.\\u0026nbsp;Investigators forensically examined the phones and discovered additional images of Lopez-Guevara sexually abusing Minor Victim 1, along with depictions of Lopez-Guevara exploiting Minor Victim 2 and Minor Victim 3. Additionally, investigators found hundreds of CSAM images and videos on the phone associated with an encrypted messaging application.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;and click on the \\u201cResources\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;tab on the left of the page.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EKnow2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\/key-definitions#CSEA\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Echild sexual exploitation and abuse\\u003C\\/a\\u003E; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.\\u0026nbsp; Learn more about Know2Protect at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022\\u003Ewww.dhs.gov\\/know2protect\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, MSP, BCPD, PGCSAO, for their work in the investigation, along with the Center for Hope, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Victoria Liu who prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources\\u0026nbsp;available to help the community, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\u0022\\u003Ejustice.gov\\/usao-md\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:34:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065277\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\",\"name\":\"USAO - Maryland\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T14:30:27-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789065027\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;A federal judge sentenced a Honduran illegal alien, unlawfully residing in the United States, to prison, today, for child sex-abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jose Adan Lopez-Guevara, 38, to 65 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children and possessing child sexual abuse material.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than Six Decades in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-md\\/pr\\/honduran-illegal-alien-sentenced-more-six-decades-federal-prison-child-sexual\",\"uuid\":\"68c2d4bf-fcda-41be-9d27-5f437c0afd0c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003ESANTA ANA, California\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJulie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMolina is charged with four counts of wire fraud.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit\\u2019s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group\\u2019s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit\\u2019s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETo conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit\\u2019s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe FBI is investigating this matter.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EChief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:21:35-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053695\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\",\"name\":\"USAO - California, Central\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:20:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053613\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-158\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EAn Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home\\u2019s mortgage.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-cdca\\/pr\\/former-treasurer-orange-county-high-school-football-booster-club-arrested-allegedly\",\"uuid\":\"67abfdd8-940f-4080-91bf-e75123b5b729\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E \\u2013 Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E appointment for four minors in Madison County.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDavid K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor\\u2019s deceased father.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u003C\\/em\\u003E are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor\\u2019s account without special order from the court.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment alleges that during his \\u003Cem\\u003Eguardian ad litem\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003Eappointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors\\u2019 bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors\\u2019 accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EElliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors\\u2019 accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\u201cConduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETrial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years\\u2019 imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0022\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0022\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T12:00:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789056050\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T10:11:48-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789049508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdil\\/pr\\/former-bethalto-attorney-accused-stealing-over-400000-minor-clients\",\"uuid\":\"5318c323-fc31-43a3-a20c-982b0fcaded7\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\u2014 An Auburn, Alabama man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal COVID relief funds and to unlawfully employ aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 9, 2026, Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful employment of aliens.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Thomas Govan, Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\u2019s Mobile Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson for Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama made the announcement.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFederal COVID relief funds were intended to help legitimate businesses and their employees, not to be diverted for personal gain or used to support an unlawful workforce,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Govan. \\u201cThis defendant defrauded programs designed to assist American businesses, misused taxpayer-funded assistance, and knowingly employed individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal programs and violate federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cCampos Reyes\\u2019s actions diverted critical pandemic relief funds away from the small businesses they were meant to support,\\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge Flowers. \\u201cThis guilty plea underscores the FBI\\u2019s commitment to protecting taxpayer resources, safeguarding victims, and rebuilding public trust by holding accountable those who exploit federal programs and violate the law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cFraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds and knowingly employing unauthorized workers undermines both the integrity of federal programs and the rule of law,\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Johnson. \\u201cHSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate individuals who exploit taxpayer-funded programs and violate our nation\\u2019s employment laws for personal gain.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in May 2020, Campos-Reyes fraudulently applied for and received approximately $866,500 in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The PPP and EIDL programs were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes admitted that he did not use the relief funds for their intended purposes. Instead, in June 2020, he used $262,145.20 to purchase real property located in Opelika, Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECampos\\u2011Reyes further admitted that, up to July 15, 2025, he knowingly hired and employed unauthorized aliens at multiple restaurants he owned or operated, fully aware that they were not permitted to work in the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EA sentencing hearing for Campos-Reyes will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 10 years for money laundering, and up to six months in prison for unlawful employment of aliens. Campos-Reyes also faces substantial fines and the forfeiture of proceeds seized during the investigation. A federal district judge will determine Campos-Reyes\\u2019s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation and resulting charges in this case are the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Additional assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Department of Corrections, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Wetumpka Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, the Lee County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis operation received significant assistance from the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and local agencies. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:16:39-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789053399\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T11:09:51-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789052991\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Employment of Aliens\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"},{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\",\"name\":\"Immigration\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdal\\/pr\\/auburn-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-unlawful-employment-aliens\",\"uuid\":\"93417c06-9a78-4113-b08c-30cad78a8064\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAUGUSTA, Georgia:\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E A Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen and announced by Margaret E. \\u201cMeg\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECheryl Galloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 67, of Yulee, Florida, was sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $454,624.20 and criminal forfeiture of $96,119 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states.\\u0026nbsp; The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGalloway\\u2019s co-defendant, \\u003Cstrong\\u003ERicki Johnson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $104,632 after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis sentence demonstrates this offices commitment to safeguarding taxpayer-funded benefits against illegal access by those that would seek to enrich themselves,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\u201cThis case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will work together to identify these criminals and hold them accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Cheryl Galloway and her co-conspirators fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits they were not entitled to, draining hard-earned tax dollars and betraying the trust of hardworking Americans. Stealing benefits is a crime and every fraudster will face the consequences they deserve,\\u201d said Anthony P. D\\u2019Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. \\u0022This ruling stands as a powerful reminder that my office, in partnership with the Department of Justice, is committed to identifying and prosecuting every individual who defrauds our benefits programs. Accountability and justice will always prevail.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAnyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.oig.dol.gov\\/hotline.htm\\u0022\\u003Ewww.oig.dol.gov\\/hotline.htm\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, J. Bishop Ravenel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T16:08:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789070906\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T15:28:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789068522\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1789041600\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"89-26\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Florida woman sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\",\"name\":\"Benefit Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\",\"name\":\"COVID-Related Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdga\\/pr\\/florida-woman-sentenced-federal-prison-conspiracy-commit-mail-fraud\",\"uuid\":\"bfaba790-ddf7-4dae-86a1-fa00bb0877fc\"}]}", "content_length": 98831, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json"}, "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0058 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_0164x7euNnkPk1Nt3qE3awvN

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_0164x7euNnkPk1Nt3qE3awvN", "elapsed": 3.526729076, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":20,\\\"page\\\":7},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.553062915802002},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958577\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday found a St. Louis County felon caught with two guns guilty of a firearm charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence and testimony at the trial, which started Tuesday, showed that a Hazelwood police officer stopped Paris D. McPeters on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stay in his lane. After learning that McPeters had an active warrant, the officer arrested him. \\\\u0026nbsp;Before the vehicle was towed, the officer asked McPeters whether there were guns or drugs in the vehicle and McPeters responded, \\\\u201cyeah.\\\\u201d A search revealed a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine, five additional loaded large capacity magazines, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with a loaded 50 round drum magazine and extra ammunition, evidence and testimony showed. McPeters has numerous prior convictions. As a felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460821\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/ex_3screenshot_2026-09-09_142849.png?itok=dMPaNNE2\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221238\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022710\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Exhibit 3\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcPeters, 44, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 9. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Christian Goeke and Joseph Green are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:32:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989579\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:26:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989210\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460821\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51c611b3-558c-44ff-96f2-9e044383bcd4\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Exhibit 3\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EParis D. McPeters was caught with a rifle, a pistol and drum magazines.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jurors Convict St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns, Drum Magazines\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/jurors-convict-st-louis-county-felon-caught-guns-drum-magazines\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c62e8cb2-66ca-4c9b-a499-da822758e8d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENASHVILLE \\\\u2013 Twelve Robertson County residents have been indicted on federal charges stemming from a multi-year investigation into the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine and related firearms offenses, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury returned the indictments in August 2026, charging the defendants with conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, along with numerous substantive drug trafficking offenses. One defendant is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation began in approximately January 2024 and was conducted by the Robertson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from federal law enforcement partners.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, members of the Robertson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, ATF, Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), and United States Marshals Service conducted a coordinated operation to execute federal arrest warrants. Six of the indicted defendants were arrested during the operation. An additional defendant was located in Ohio the following day and remains in custody there on state warrants. Five defendants were already in custody on other charges and are expected to make appearances in federal court later this month.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants and charges include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDerrick Artell Hurt, 47, of Greenbrier, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESantoria Antonio Brown, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cHoggie,\\\\u201d 48, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Twelve counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETerrelle Epprise Payne, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRat Daddy,\\\\u201d 53, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Five counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Felon in possession of a firearm\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMichael Christopher Bigbee, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cBig Mike,\\\\u201d 42, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlandis Vontay Darden, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cApple Head,\\\\u201d 43, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Nine counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnthony Terrill Swoopes, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cSwoopes,\\\\u201d 56, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETomika Mischelle Woodard, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cMickey,\\\\u201d 53, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Seven counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid Lee Brown, 41, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENola Ann Davis, 52, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDonald Ray Bugg, 36, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EShauntai Deshelle Black, 29, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- One count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETaylor Leighann Rose, 29, of Springfield, Tennessee\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- Use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCocaine and crack cocaine poison neighborhoods, and the firearms that travel with them turn drug deals into shootings,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. \\\\u201cFor more than two years, the Robertson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and ATF built this case one transaction at a time, and today a dozen alleged traffickers are facing federal charges because of that work. This office will use every tool the law gives us to dismantle drug networks in Middle Tennessee, and we are grateful to our partners at every level of law enforcement who made this operation possible.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case is a prime example of law enforcement working collectively to protect our communities and confront those who blatantly disregard public safety by distributing deadly narcotics and illegally possessing firearms,\\\\u201d said\\\\u0026nbsp;Special Agent In charge, Jamey VanVliet.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and charge those individuals who continue to make our neighborhoods unsafe through armed drug trafficking activities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe success of this multi-year operation is a direct reflection of the strong working relationships and partnerships we have built with our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,\\\\u201d said Robertson County Sheriff Michael Van Dyke. \\\\u201cThrough communication, cooperation, and a shared commitment to our community, we were able to remove illegal drugs and firearms from our streets and hold those involved in criminal activity accountable. We are grateful to every agency and officer who worked together to make this operation a success.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation remains active and ongoing. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the resources of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes available tools to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E#####\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:30:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989420\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ae7c72ba-bf50-4359-9290-5b9c46908ba6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:27:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989234\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"12 Robertson County Defendants Charged in Federal Cocaine Trafficking Case\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdtn\\\\/pr\\\\/12-robertson-county-defendants-charged-federal-cocaine-trafficking-case\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e370462d-c046-4366-9831-971de9e08c92\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISONBURG, Va. \\\\u2013 An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMiguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia,\\\\u0026nbsp; pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Arellano conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Clarke County from approximately 2024 and 2025. Specifically, Arellano made drug sales to confidential sources working with the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. During multiple transactions, Arellano provided the confidential source with methamphetamine ranging in weight between 725 grams and 1,485 grams. In all, Arellano made at least five sales to the confidential source.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a result of these transactions, task force members obtained a search warrant for a farm property in Clarke County operated by Arellano. In a barn on the property, investigators located 4,631 grams of pure methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA second search warrant was executed at Arellano\\\\u2019s home in Marshall, Virginia. Investigators recovered $15,495 in cash. Some of that cash was identified as being the same money given to the confidential source to be used to purchase drugs from Arellano. In addition, Arellano admitted he worked for an individual in Mexico who sent him methamphetamine to distribute. Arellano would then wire the proceeds back to Mexico at the individual\\\\u2019s direction.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFurther investigation revealed that in 2012, Arellano was federally convicted in the District of New Jersey for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. He ultimately served 37 months in federal prison. Following that sentence, and on at least two other occasions, Arellano was removed from the United States \\\\u2013 once in 2013 and again in 2015. Following both removals, he unlawfully returned to the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being investigated by the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration Winchester Resident Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Endres is prosecuting the case for the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:00:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958828\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"42408f6b-4f4a-4762-b2b2-1130ea85b32f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:58:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958718\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISONBURG, Va. \\\\u2013 An illegal alien from Mexico, who had been removed from the United States on at least two previous occasions before illegally reentering the country, pled guilty recently to distributing thousands of grams of methamphetamine and violating the immigration laws of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMiguel Alberto Sandoval Arellano, 41, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in Marshall, Virginia,\\\\u0026nbsp; pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentering the United States after having previously been removed, with an aggravated felony conviction before removal.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug, Immigration Charges \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdva\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-mexico-pleads-guilty-federal-drug-immigration-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"45a3538c-6272-4a32-a126-300b448b9622\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. PAUL \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Hudeife Muhamud Mire, aka \\\\u201cJuice,\\\\u201d 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHis plea hearing was before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on September 8, 2026. Mire faces a statutory minimum of 20 years in prison and supervised release of at least four years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in 2021, Mire conspired with others to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendant remained a part of the agreement until May 17, 2022, when he was arrested.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 16, 2022, Mire sold fentanyl to the victim, a 19-year-old woman. The victim died from an overdose minutes after consuming one of the pills. On May 17, 2022, police executed a search warrant at Mire\\\\u2019s apartment and seized roughly 180 grams of fentanyl pills and over $4,000 in cash. On May 19, 2022, state authorities charged the defendant with third-degree murder related to the woman\\\\u2019s death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 1, 2022, Mire was released under certain conditions. However, days later, on June 4, 2022, and in violation of his release conditions, Mire flew to Kenya on a one-way ticket and remained there until January 6, 2026, when federal agents returned him to the United States. Mire admitted that he flew to Kenya to avoid investigation and prosecution for the offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea represents a crucial step toward justice for the young woman and her family. Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who peddle deadly drugs into our communities,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cA 19-year-old woman lost her life to a pill that the dealer knew contained fentanyl, a substance that continues to destroy families and communities,\\\\u201d said Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\\\u201cDespite his best efforts to evade justice, Mire must now face the consequences of his actions, while also living with the knowledge that his dealings left a young woman\\\\u2019s family and friends grieving.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMire\\\\u2019s plea agreement reflects the strength of our partnerships and the unwavering commitment required to bring fugitives to justice,\\\\u201d said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. \\\\u201cThe gravity of the defendant\\\\u2019s crimes\\\\u2014including distributing fentanyl that caused a young woman\\\\u2019s death and then fleeing to obstruct justice\\\\u2014underscores the importance of holding offenders accountable. This outcome was made possible through close cooperation with the Government of Kenya, whose assistance ensured the defendant\\\\u2019s return to the United States to face federal charges. We are grateful for their collaboration and for the collective work of all our law enforcement partners who made this result possible.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFleeing the country didn\\\\u2019t allow Mr. Mire to escape accountability,\\\\u201d said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. \\\\u201cThis case is a strong example of what can happen when law enforcement partners stay committed to seeing a case through, no matter how long it takes or how far it leads. The BCA was proud to work alongside our partners here in Minnesota and internationally to help locate Mr. Mire and return him to the United States to answer for his actions, moving this case one step closer to justice for Samantha Myers.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAlthough no sentence given to Hudeife Mire will equal the loss experienced by the victim\\\\u2019s family and friends, we are grateful that there will be accountability for his role in her death.\\\\u0026nbsp; Fentanyl continues to be a plague on our society and hopefully this prosecution deters others.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force, Kandiyohi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Willmar Police Department would also like to acknowledge our state and federal partners who assisted in locating Mire in a foreign county and getting him back to the United States to be prosecuted,\\\\u201d said CEE-VI Commander Ross Ardoff, Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson, and Willmar Police Chief Mike Holme in a joint statement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the CEE-VI (Cooperative Enforcement Effort) Drug and Gang Task Force, the Kandiyohi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Willmar Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:59:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994785\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:58:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994720\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Pleads Guilty and Faces at Least 20 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a Young Woman\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/man-pleads-guilty-and-faces-least-20-years-imprisonment-conspiracy-distribute-fentanyl\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f84d512-382f-4fcd-927a-d1c4c009b2c3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\\\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\\\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cI am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Rhode Island United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. City of Pawtucket et al.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division\\\\u2019s website at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:32:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788971544\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e587e060-7060-40d3-a133-fa686fd8a043\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights - Voting Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Rhode Island\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:53:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962030\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1032\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\\\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\\\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Voting and Elections\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-conduct-election-monitoring-rhode-island-primary-election\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75930653-0d55-4691-9876-033e4bdab558\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT\\\\u2019s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax\\\\/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed.\\\\u0026nbsp; The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGuilty Plea\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencing Date\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAmount of Loss\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/9\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$665,639.74\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[3] C\\\\u00e9sar Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Nieves\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$852,487.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[4] 24 Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$35,125.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[5] A La Silla LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$205,514.32\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[6] RB Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$154,728.92\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$526,263.67\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[8] L\\\\u00edneas de Puerto Rico, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$393,408.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[9] H\\\\u00e9ctor J. Baerga-Ortiz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,833,983.81\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[10] H\\\\u00edjole Foods Bistro Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$447,241.14\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[11] HVP Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$564,545.29\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[12] BBB Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$386,483.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[13] BHV Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$225,340.52\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[14] VHB Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$131,461.02\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[15] Carlos A. Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Ortiz\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/7\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/2\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/10\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$193,577.03\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/3\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$437,785.06\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[22] Gabrielle L\\\\u00f3pez-Berr\\\\u00edos\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/16\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$36,138.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[23] G Fitness \\\\u0026amp; Body Performance LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$17,309.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[24] Veevo LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,642\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[25] Patria Silfa-B\\\\u00e1ez\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$47,209.44\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[26] Print Pro LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$44,630.33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Mar\\\\u00eda Antongiorgi-Jord\\\\u00e1n.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActing U.S. Attorney H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico\\\\u2019s Financial Fraud \\\\u0026amp; Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-individuals-and-companies-indicted-puerto-rico-tax-debt-scheme-involving-over\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ethe indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, the July 2, 2026 \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-pleads-guilty-bribery-conspiracy-involving-loss-5-million\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Luis A. Jim\\\\u00e9nez-Guzm\\\\u00e1n\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-and-business-owner-plead-guilty-wire-fraud-conspiracy-involving-loss\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:29:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956974\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:17:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956260\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-096\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/additional-hacienda-employee-and-business-owners-plead-guilty-bribery-conspiracies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6c4442ff-37a1-4b48-8809-0813101a5bc5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.\\\\u0026nbsp;The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\\\u201cXinbi\\\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury\\\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIf Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\\\u201cMy Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, run on Telegram, where vendors market their services to scam center operators. The Telegram channel operated primarily in Chinese, and the vendors post their available services on the Telegram channel, to include creating custom scam investment websites, laundering or \\\\u201cwashing\\\\u201d money that scammers obtain from victims of wire fraud, and soliciting trafficking victims to work in scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Once a scammer \\\\u201cpurchases\\\\u201d a service from the vendor, Xinbi as an organization holds money to be paid to the vendor until the vendors services are complete, to assure the scammers that the vendors will perform the services.\\\\u0026nbsp; The seizure warrant alleged numerous instances where U.S. victims funds were traced to specific vendors who advertised their money laundering services on the Telegram channel, and posted cryptocurrency wallets for payment on Telegram. On September 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia authorized seizure of the Telegram channels hosting this marketplace.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460531\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_1.png?itok=09_8fNvh\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022766\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022386\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Green and white chat box with typed message\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on the Telegram channel for \\\\u201ccleaning\\\\u201d cryptocurrency for Chinese RMB.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460541\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_2.png?itok=R2Zy8I-9\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022789\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022831\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Green and white chat box with message\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on Telegram for recruiting scammer (\\\\u201cLevel 1\\\\u201d) agents.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, also pursuant to the same warrant, the Scam Center Strike Force seized two cryptocurrency wallets that Xinbi used to collect payments for vendors, which collectively held approximately $12 million in funds. Law enforcement also sought restraint of 47 additional cryptocurrency wallets that were believed to be associated with money laundering on Xinbi\\\\u2019s network and with vendors who had worked for scammers. Due to all these coordinated efforts, more than $52 million\\\\u0026nbsp;worth of cryptocurrency was restrained from Xinbi and its network of vendors that facilitate the organized crime groups running scam centers around the globe. The Strike Force thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EToday, in further coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury\\\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization and identified numerous cryptocurrency wallets associated with Xinbi.\\\\u0026nbsp; OFAC also designated two other entities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Xinbi.\\\\u0026nbsp; As a result of today\\\\u2019s action by OFAC, all property and interests in property of these three sanctioned entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury\\\\u2019s press release at this link.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAfter scamming money from hardworking Americans, criminals operating overseas laundered it through the Xinbi Guarantee network, which operated under the false assumption that they were out of the reach of U.S. law enforcement, said Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. \\\\u201cThe efforts of our agents and investigative analysts to trace stolen funds and unveil the scope of this criminal network shows that while the methods of fraud may change, our resolve does not.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cGlobal crime faces global justice, and the FBI will stop at nothing to protect the finances that hardworking Americans build over their lifetimes,\\\\u201d said FBI Chicago Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s seizure demonstrates law enforcement and prosecutors\\\\u2019 commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling scam centers, no matter where they are in the world. The FBI is committed to working with domestic and international partners around the globe to stop scammers before they attack and hold these criminals accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cScam centers are not just criminal enterprises\\\\u2014they are engines of exploitation that devastate victims, families, and communities,\\\\u0022 said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. \\\\u0022 These schemes target our elderly and most vulnerable, draining their finances, eroding their trust, and in many cases leaving lasting emotional harm. The FBI is committed to dismantling these networks, holding offenders accountable, and restoring a sense of security to the communities they prey upon.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlso today, U.S. Attorney Pirro announced that the Scam Center Strike Force will expand its scope to attack scam center compounds globally. In furtherance of that expanded focus, U.S. Attorney Pirro, together with U.S. Attorney Heyman and FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, announced that the Strike Force had deployed a team to Madagascar to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on scam centers in that country. The Strike Force team, which was in country for two weeks, supported the local authorities related to the take down of 13 scam centers that were being operated by Chinese organized crime syndicates. The Strike Force team assisted in the processing of more than 3,200 electronic devices. The Strike Force team has also opened their own investigations on the basis of interviews conducted of the nearly 400 arrestees, at least approximately 30 of whom where Chinese leaders of the scam compounds, who were repatriated to China by the Chinese government.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Transnational criminal organizations don\\\\u2019t care about borders, and the Department of Justice won\\\\u2019t either,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.\\\\u0026nbsp; We are proud to be part of the Scam Center Strike Force and will work to eliminate these international scam networks and bring justice to U.S. fraud victims across the country.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460546\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_3.jpg?itok=47xCRnm6\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022485\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022646\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Boxes of phones from Chinese run compounds in Madagascar, reviewed by the Strike Force\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460551\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221430\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221073\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\\\/we\\\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\\\u0026amp;muv=1\\\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\\\u0026amp;cac=1\\\\u0026amp;sams=1\\\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\\\u0026amp;hch=1\\\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003E[1]\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\\\u2019s Order.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788964120\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alaska\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460531\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with typed message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460541\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460546\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460551\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of room full of monitors\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\\\u201cXinbi\\\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Cybercrime\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cKeeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper\\\\u2019s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant\\\\u2019s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames faces up to twenty years\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years\\\\u2019 imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years\\\\u2019 imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:36:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957397\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:34:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957278\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking \\\\u0026amp; Firearm Offenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/prior-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-firearm-offenses\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ef46b8d2-07fd-4ef4-b9c9-23ff24cb9fa9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis serial felon\\\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\\\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957073\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\\\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cI appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cI am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as \\\\u2018a shining star at the Department of Justice.\\\\u2019 Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460506\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-141.jpg?itok=E6H6z9Y7\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221846\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221235\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office\\\\u2019s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys\\\\u2019 Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460511\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-124.jpg?itok=hnRliz5p\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221858\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221238\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460516\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-115.jpg?itok=TRij08Y7\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221827\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221211\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\\\/03\\\\/2026-AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys\\\\u2019 oath of office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460526\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-dsc03904.jpg?itok=DZNyCj0k\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221773\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221175\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022USAO NDGA 09\\\\/03\\\\/26 - AG Visit\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESince mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)\\\\u2014setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices, district attorney\\\\u2019s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJonathan Adams\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a\\\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAnita Balasubramanian\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJamie Bircoll\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation \\\\u0026amp; Trial Practice Associate at Alston \\\\u0026amp; Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPatrick Cespedes\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMelissa Cheape\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKassi Conley\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section.\\\\u0026nbsp;She worked as a Special Matters \\\\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate at King \\\\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBernard Eyth\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\\\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDaniel Grill\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\\\u0026amp; National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham \\\\u0026amp; Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESteve Hsieh\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\\\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENicholas Joy\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds \\\\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENathaniel Lancaster\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb \\\\u0026amp; Tyler and clerked for\\\\u0026nbsp;Judge Myrna P\\\\u00e9rez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJonathan Letzring\\\\u0026nbs\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov\\\\/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov\\\\/psc and click on the tab \\\\u0022resources.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:57:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788991063\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:56:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788990984\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDustin A. Hill, 22, of Florence, Ariz., was indicted by a federal grand jury with charges related to enticement of a minor.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Arizona Man Charged with Enticing and Transporting a Minor to Kentucky to Engage in Illegal Sexual Conduct\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/arizona-man-charged-enticing-and-transporting-minor-kentucky-engage-illegal-sexual\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"29ab1d99-a5c5-4fd5-bc33-9426915b54da\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman announced that RYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Fitzgibbons was employed as the executive director of the Holy Family Home \\\\u0026amp; Shelter (\\\\u201cHFHS\\\\u201d), a charitable non-profit group in Windham serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing emergency and temporary housing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Between approximately November 2021 and June 2023, Fitzgibbons stole approximately $734,683 from HFHS by making unauthorized wire transfers from the HFHS bank account to his personal accounts, unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals using the HFHS debit card, and writing checks from the HFHS account to himself and to \\\\u201ccash.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons attempted to cover up his criminal behavior by providing false transactions and donation accounting reports to HFHS board members.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of his scheme, in September 2022, Fitzgibbons failed to report to the HFHS board a $392,000 donation HFHS received from the estate of an individual.\\\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons was terminated from HFHS in September 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn approximately April 2024, Fitzgibbons was hired as the executive director of the Durham Middlefield Youth \\\\u0026amp; Family Services (\\\\u0022DMYFS\\\\u0022), a charitable nonprofit based in Middlefield serving children and families by fostering a healthy community through prevention, intervention, treatment and community-building.\\\\u0026nbsp; Fitzgibbons used the DMYFS bank account to make approximately $40,769 in unauthorized purchases that he falsely justified as \\\\u201cmarketing,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cwages,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201csoftware.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; He was terminated from the position in August 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFitzgibbons pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; He also has agreed to pay $775,452.21 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFitzgibbons is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 2.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Middlefield Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State\\\\u2019s Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Judicial District of Middlesex for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:17:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788992263\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:16:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788992168\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Killingly Man Admits Stealing $775K from Nonprofits in Windham and Middlefield\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/killingly-man-admits-stealing-775k-nonprofits-windham-and-middlefield\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0273a229-3928-4933-9993-c42ed93f722b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guodeng Chen, and Didi Huang, both of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 8, 2022, Chen and Huang caused 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $29,433.60 for this shipment. On April 28, 2022, Chen and Huang caused another 45,000 pounds of stolen used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $30,618.00 for this shipment. The defendants knew there was a high probability that the cooking oil was stolen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Anthony Licari, Special Agent-In-Charge, Midwestern Region.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing for defendant Chen is scheduled on December 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and sentencing for defendant Huang is scheduled for December 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., both before Judge Geraci.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:04:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995062\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994951\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Guodeng Chen, and Didi Huang, both of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Two Pittsford men plead guilty for their roles in stolen cooking oil scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/two-pittsford-men-plead-guilty-their-roles-stolen-cooking-oil-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e463819e-a2ea-4319-91cb-9bde3766522b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962761\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY \\\\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959888\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mekfira Hussein and Abduljabar Hussein have been sentenced to a total of 97 months in prison for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Husseins submitted fraudulent claims for meals and ultimately obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel on September 8, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMekfira Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 42, of Shakopee, Minnesota, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-woman-pleads-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 31, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAbduljabar Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 45,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Shakopee, Minnesota,\\\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/four-more-defendants-plead-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 5, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children. Their sentences today reflect my office\\\\u2019s commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer prosecuted these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Press releases on the defendants\\\\u2019 indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-couple-indicted-their-roles-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOctober 18, 2022\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:47:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994037\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:46:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788993976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Couple in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months\\\\u2019 Imprisonment\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/couple-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme-sentenced-97-months-imprisonment\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"95e3ce0e-765a-4e68-9b0d-5857276e015d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959768\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959085\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHAMMOND \\\\u2013 Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois.\\\\u0026nbsp; Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRecidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; They\\\\u0026nbsp;used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased.\\\\u0026nbsp;In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.\\\\u0026nbsp;Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp; Thanks to the partnership of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Cook County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-gove\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0061 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01XrjRFuRjtTxZkoJYJzLFYN

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01XrjRFuRjtTxZkoJYJzLFYN", "elapsed": 3.440587297, "error": "", "result": {"content": "{\"metadata\":{\"responseInfo\":{\"status\":200},\"resultset\":{\"count\":\"272245\",\"pagesize\":20,\"page\":8},\"executionTime\":2.4585349559783936},\"results\":[{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958014\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\",\"uuid\":\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958577\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788958422\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\",\"uuid\":\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003ECHICAGO \\u2014 A man who carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the backyard of a Chicago residence has been sentenced to 14 and a half years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EOn the evening of Nov. 2, 2023, KENNETH MERRITT and DAMARRI CONNER carjacked an Audi sedan in the backyard of a residence in Chicago\\u2019s Beverly neighborhood.\\u0026nbsp; A woman and her daughter had just returned home in another vehicle when Conner and Merritt sprang from a hiding place and attacked them.\\u0026nbsp; Merritt threw the mother violently to the ground, ripped her purse from her arms, and threatened to kill her and her daughter.\\u0026nbsp; Conner then pointed a gun at the woman\\u2019s husband, who had rushed outside to help his family.\\u0026nbsp; The carjackers took the Audi and drove off.\\u0026nbsp; The carjacking was captured on a home-security video, which can be viewed\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/media\\/1435751\\u0022\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMerritt, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm offenses.\\u0026nbsp; On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Merritt to 14 and a half years in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EConner, 23, of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm offenses.\\u0026nbsp;Judge Harjani sentenced Conner on April 8, 2026, to the same period of incarceration as Merritt.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003EMerritt\\u2019s sentence was\\u0026nbsp;announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting\\u0026nbsp;Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI;\\u0026nbsp;and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-justify\\u0022\\u003E\\u201cThis crime was heinous and violent,\\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government\\u2019s sentencing memorandum in Merritt\\u2019s case.\\u0026nbsp; \\u201cThe trauma he inflicted on his victims will take years to repair.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:51:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972715\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\",\"name\":\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:50:26-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788972626\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EKENNETH MERRITT violently carjacked a vehicle in the backyard of a residence in Chicago\\u2019s Beverly neighborhood.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Man Sentenced to 14 and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking Vehicle at Gunpoint in Backyard of Chicago Residence\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"},{\"uuid\":\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\",\"name\":\"Violent Crime\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndil\\/pr\\/man-sentenced-14-and-half-years-federal-prison-carjacking-vehicle-gunpoint-backyard\",\"uuid\":\"9d36b1f1-38d2-4319-8611-45892baa77c6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/psc\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962761\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962376\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\",\"uuid\":\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cKeeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper\\u2019s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant\\u2019s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJames faces up to twenty years\\u2019 imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years\\u2019 imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years\\u2019 imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website. For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:36:37-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957397\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:34:38-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957278\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ETallahassee, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking \\u0026amp; Firearm Offenses\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/prior-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking-firearm-offenses\",\"uuid\":\"ef46b8d2-07fd-4ef4-b9c9-23ff24cb9fa9\"},{\"attachment\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460536\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b70cb281-10dc-4e84-8b06-b5cec0ccbafe\"},\"description\":\"\",\"display\":\"1\"}],\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees. BARRON and AHIGA were previously arrested and presented in the Central District of California and are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment\\u0026nbsp;this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute frauds targeting vulnerable victims,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga allegedly preyed upon financially struggling homeowners who got behind on their mortgages by charging them monthly fees and leading them to believe much of their past-due balances would be forgiven, causing a number of those customers\\u2019 homes to go into foreclosure.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cArmando Solis Barron and Dominic Ahiga\\u2019s alleged fraud scheme involved taking money from people who sought assistance with their mortgages,\\u201d said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. \\u201cThis scheme hurt hundreds of vulnerable people financially. The FBI will continue to prioritize complex financial fraud investigations to protect the public from anyone who takes advantage of consumers.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the Indictment:(1)\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom at least in or about June 2018 through at least in or about September 2022, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, BARRON and AHIGA, together with others, defrauded clients of their mortgage modification business and the clients\\u2019 mortgage lenders. BARRON, AHIGA, and others operated their mortgage modification business under different names, including Green Equitable Solutions, d\\/b\\/a Academy Home Services; South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc. d\\/b\\/a Home Matters USA; Apex Consulting \\u0026amp; Associates Inc., d\\/b\\/a Golden Home Services America; and Infocom Entertainment Ltd., d\\/b\\/a Atlantic Pacific Service (collectively, the \\u201cCompany\\u201d). BARRON, AHIGA, and others solicited homeowners who were struggling to make monthly payments on their mortgages and promised to have the homeowners\\u2019 interest rates and monthly payments reduced in exchange for monthly fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBARRON, AHIGA, and others induced the Company\\u2019s clients to accept their services and to continue to pay the monthly fees by lying about, among other matters, the amount of time that the mortgage modification process would take and the nature of the fees that the clients were paying for mortgage modification services. The defendants and others also directed clients to stop making monthly mortgage payments to their lenders and to pay the Company monthly fees instead. The conspirators falsely told clients that their lenders would forgive their arrearages and, in many instances, that part of their monthly payments to the Company would go to pay down the balances of their mortgage loans. BARRON, AHIGA, and others also defrauded the clients\\u2019 lenders by making material misrepresentations and by engaging in fraudulent practices to cause the lenders to modify the clients\\u2019 mortgages, including by creating and submitting fabricated bank statements so that the Company\\u2019s clients appeared to meet the lenders\\u2019 criteria for a modification. Clients of the mortgage modification business operated by BARRON, AHIGA, and others paid over approximately $15 million for mortgage modification services, and a number of those clients\\u2019 homes went into foreclosure.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;*\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESOLIS BARRON, 63, of La Habra Heights, California, and AHIGA, 56, of Los Angeles, California, are both charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\u2019s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Col\\u003E\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\u0022ec5d39d84a4de11b601230de288ff8684\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\u0022\\u003E^\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cdiv\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the\\u0026nbsp;Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\u003C\\/li\\u003E\\u003C\\/ol\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:21:58-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963718\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:10:09-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788963009\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-252\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (\\u201cFBI\\u201d), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today an Indictment charging\\u0026nbsp;ARMANDO SOLIS BARRON, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cSolomon,\\u201d and DOMINIC AHIGA, a\\/k\\/a \\u201cMichael Grinnell,\\u201d a\\/k\\/a \\u201cJosh Weinstein,\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their scheme to defraud clients of their mortgage modification business of millions of dollars in fees.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Two Individuals Charged In Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Modification Scheme\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdny\\/pr\\/two-individuals-charged-multimillion-dollar-mortgage-modification-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"0088b663-5338-41b8-827e-a928d3aed37e\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictments, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdwin Aldana\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn a separate indictment, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EKevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:37:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975453\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:21-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975081\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-91\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E \\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ri\\/pr\\/federal-grand-jury-indicts-two-men-illegal-reentry-united-states\",\"uuid\":\"439f62c4-ffee-455d-9f7f-cb523d22c6f3\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cI am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThe Rhode Island United States Attorney\\u2019s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. City of Pawtucket et al.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Civil Rights Division\\u2019s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFrom now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division\\u2019s website at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:32:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971544\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"e587e060-7060-40d3-a133-fa686fd8a043\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Voting Section\"},{\"uuid\":\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\",\"name\":\"USAO - Rhode Island\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:53:50-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788962030\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1032\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice \\u2014 through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island \\u2014 will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"},{\"uuid\":\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\",\"name\":\"Voting and Elections\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/justice-department-conduct-election-monitoring-rhode-island-primary-election\",\"uuid\":\"75930653-0d55-4691-9876-033e4bdab558\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ERUTLAND \\u2013 The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 8, 2026, Todd Hoyte, 55, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 36 months\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier scheduled a hearing on December 3, 2026, to determine any restitution that Hoyte owes as part of his sentence. Previously, Hoyte pleaded guilty to making interstate threats and cyberstalking.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court records, between July 29, 2024, and September 25, 2024, in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats, Hoyte, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, placed more than 10 cellphone calls to Vermont, during which he left voicemails for Grand Isle County State\\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito. These voicemails included a threat on DiSabito\\u2019s life as well as insults, slurs, and derogatory language against DiSabito. At the time, DiSabito was prosecuting Hoyte for a criminal offense. In pleading guilty, Hoyte admitted that he made communications to harass and intimidate DiSabito as well as for the purpose of issuing a threat and with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat to DiSabito.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Hoyte was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:01:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969682\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\",\"name\":\"USAO - Vermont\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:58:28-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788969508\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"U.S. Virgin Islands Man Sentenced For Making Interstate Threats and Stalking\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-vt\\/pr\\/us-virgin-islands-man-sentenced-making-interstate-threats-and-stalking\",\"uuid\":\"937304d3-fafe-464d-9594-9549359d226d\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959768\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\",\"name\":\"USAO - South Dakota\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959085\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\",\"name\":\"Operation Take Back America\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sd\\/pr\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\",\"uuid\":\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\u201cThis serial felon\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\u003Cstrong\\u003E.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\/cgi-bin\\/login.pl\\u0022\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\u003C\\/a\\u003E website.\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u0022\\u003Ehttps:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788957073\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\",\"name\":\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\"},{\"uuid\":\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\",\"name\":\"USAO - Florida, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788956851\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\"},{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndfl\\/pr\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\",\"uuid\":\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EDALLAS \\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi\\u2011state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Esentenced Dian Huang Jiang, aka \\u201cDanny Jiang,\\u201d to 60 months in federal prison.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cDrug traffickers who exploit interstate networks to pump poison into our communities will be met with the full force of federal prosecution,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.\\u0026nbsp;\\u201cMr. Jiang built a sprawling, multi\\u2011state drug enterprise that pushed thousands of kilograms of marijuana and funneled millions of dollars in proceeds through criminal channels. The Homeland Security Task Force unraveled that operation piece by piece, and today\\u2019s sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that threaten public safety.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cThis case sends a clear message; drug traffickers do not get a free pass simply because marijuana laws vary from state to state\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. \\u201cMr. Jiang moved large quantities of marijuana across state lines and supplied dangerous criminals who fuel violence and threaten our communities.\\u0026nbsp; We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle networks and prevent drug proceeds from strengthening criminal organizations.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, Jiang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. From at least January 2020 through August 2023, Jiang led a large\\u2011scale distribution network responsible for moving marijuana from Oklahoma to customers across Texas and multiple other states. Jiang routinely used cellular telephones to coordinate marijuana deliveries, negotiate pricing and direct customers where to drop off large quantities of U.S. currency as payment for drug shipments.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ECourt records show Jiang acquired multi\\u2011ton quantities of marijuana, often distributing up to 1,000 pounds in a single day, and required customers to purchase between 20 and 300 pounds per transaction. He utilized multiple residences in Oklahoma and Texas to store, distribute and collect proceeds from the illegal drug enterprise. As part of the conspiracy, Jiang and his coconspirators transported drug proceeds between states, sometimes sending substantial amounts overseas to include the People\\u2019s Republic of China. On Aug. 8, 2023, federal agents seized more than $2.8 million from bank accounts and safe deposit boxes linked to Jiang\\u2019s operation.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn addition to the prison term, Jiang faces forfeiture of several residential properties used in the drug\\u2011trafficking operation as well as more than $4 million in drug proceeds traced by investigators.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration \\u2013 Dallas conducted the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Oklahoma City), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Oklahoma, and the City of Mesquite Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Lo Galbo and Rick Calvert prosecuted the case with assistance from AUSAs Phelesa Guy and Jonathan Penn.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff\\u2019s Office and other local law enforcement entities.\\u0026nbsp; The prosecution was led by the United States Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:19-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975079\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\",\"name\":\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:27:11-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788974831\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi\\u2011state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Dallas man who conspired to use interstate facilities to aid a marijuana trafficking enterprise sentenced in Homeland Security Task Force investigation\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\",\"name\":\"Homeland Security Task Force\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndtx\\/pr\\/dallas-man-who-conspired-use-interstate-facilities-aid-marijuana-trafficking\",\"uuid\":\"9daa50bb-1eef-4c47-ae07-6519490771a4\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EWASHINGTON \\u2013\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.\\u0026nbsp;The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds. Approximately $52 million of cryptocurrency involved in scam money laundering was restrained in one day, bringing the total restrained by the Scam Center Strike Force to approximately $938 million.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJoining in the announcement were U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael J. Heyman, FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the United States Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Lisa Palluconi, Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cblockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIf Chinese organized crime can buy a custom website and a money laundering service the way you order takeout, then every American with a retirement account is in the blast radius,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\u201cMy Strike Force will continue to dismantle Chinese organized crime, those who facilitate it, and protect Main Street America.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003C\\/blockquote\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs alleged in a seizure warrant unsealed today, Xinbi is a Chinese-language illicit marketplace, run on Telegram, where vendors market their services to scam center operators. The Telegram channel operated primarily in Chinese, and the vendors post their available services on the Telegram channel, to include creating custom scam investment websites, laundering or \\u201cwashing\\u201d money that scammers obtain from victims of wire fraud, and soliciting trafficking victims to work in scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Once a scammer \\u201cpurchases\\u201d a service from the vendor, Xinbi as an organization holds money to be paid to the vendor until the vendors services are complete, to assure the scammers that the vendors will perform the services.\\u0026nbsp; The seizure warrant alleged numerous instances where U.S. victims funds were traced to specific vendors who advertised their money laundering services on the Telegram channel, and posted cryptocurrency wallets for payment on Telegram. On September 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia authorized seizure of the Telegram channels hosting this marketplace.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460531\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_1.png?itok=09_8fNvh\\u0022 width=\\u0022766\\u0022 height=\\u0022386\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with typed message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on the Telegram channel for \\u201ccleaning\\u201d cryptocurrency for Chinese RMB.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460541\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_2.png?itok=R2Zy8I-9\\u0022 width=\\u0022789\\u0022 height=\\u0022831\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Green and white chat box with message\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;A vendor advertisement on Telegram for recruiting scammer (\\u201cLevel 1\\u201d) agents.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, also pursuant to the same warrant, the Scam Center Strike Force seized two cryptocurrency wallets that Xinbi used to collect payments for vendors, which collectively held approximately $12 million in funds. Law enforcement also sought restraint of 47 additional cryptocurrency wallets that were believed to be associated with money laundering on Xinbi\\u2019s network and with vendors who had worked for scammers. Due to all these coordinated efforts, more than $52 million\\u0026nbsp;worth of cryptocurrency was restrained from Xinbi and its network of vendors that facilitate the organized crime groups running scam centers around the globe. The Strike Force thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EToday, in further coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury\\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization and identified numerous cryptocurrency wallets associated with Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; OFAC also designated two other entities for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Xinbi.\\u0026nbsp; As a result of today\\u2019s action by OFAC, all property and interests in property of these three sanctioned entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. For more information, please see the Department of Treasury\\u2019s press release at this link.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAfter scamming money from hardworking Americans, criminals operating overseas laundered it through the Xinbi Guarantee network, which operated under the false assumption that they were out of the reach of U.S. law enforcement, said Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. \\u201cThe efforts of our agents and investigative analysts to trace stolen funds and unveil the scope of this criminal network shows that while the methods of fraud may change, our resolve does not.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cGlobal crime faces global justice, and the FBI will stop at nothing to protect the finances that hardworking Americans build over their lifetimes,\\u201d said FBI Chicago Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. \\u201cToday\\u2019s seizure demonstrates law enforcement and prosecutors\\u2019 commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling scam centers, no matter where they are in the world. The FBI is committed to working with domestic and international partners around the globe to stop scammers before they attack and hold these criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cScam centers are not just criminal enterprises\\u2014they are engines of exploitation that devastate victims, families, and communities,\\u0022 said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. \\u0022 These schemes target our elderly and most vulnerable, draining their finances, eroding their trust, and in many cases leaving lasting emotional harm. The FBI is committed to dismantling these networks, holding offenders accountable, and restoring a sense of security to the communities they prey upon.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAlso today, U.S. Attorney Pirro announced that the Scam Center Strike Force will expand its scope to attack scam center compounds globally. In furtherance of that expanded focus, U.S. Attorney Pirro, together with U.S. Attorney Heyman and FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director Matthew Floyd, announced that the Strike Force had deployed a team to Madagascar to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on scam centers in that country. The Strike Force team, which was in country for two weeks, supported the local authorities related to the take down of 13 scam centers that were being operated by Chinese organized crime syndicates. The Strike Force team assisted in the processing of more than 3,200 electronic devices. The Strike Force team has also opened their own investigations on the basis of interviews conducted of the nearly 400 arrestees, at least approximately 30 of whom where Chinese leaders of the scam compounds, who were repatriated to China by the Chinese government.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022Transnational criminal organizations don\\u2019t care about borders, and the Department of Justice won\\u2019t either,\\u201d said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.\\u0026nbsp; We are proud to be part of the Scam Center Strike Force and will work to eliminate these international scam networks and bring justice to U.S. fraud victims across the country.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460546\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_3.jpg?itok=47xCRnm6\\u0022 width=\\u0022485\\u0022 height=\\u0022646\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Boxes of phones from Chinese run compounds in Madagascar, reviewed by the Strike Force\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460551\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\u0022 width=\\u00221430\\u0022 height=\\u00221073\\u0022 alt=\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003E\\u003Cu\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\u003C\\/u\\u003E\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\/we\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\u0026amp;muv=1\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\u0026amp;cac=1\\u0026amp;sams=1\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\u0026amp;hch=1\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Csup\\u003E[1]\\u003C\\/sup\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\u2019s Order.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788964120\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\",\"name\":\"Criminal Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\",\"name\":\"USAO - Alaska\"},{\"uuid\":\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\",\"name\":\"USAO - District of Columbia\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788960163\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460531\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with typed message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460541\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\"},\"alt\":\"Green and white chat box with message\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460546\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460551\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\"},\"alt\":\"Picture of room full of monitors\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\u201cXinbi\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\",\"name\":\"Cybercrime\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-dc\\/pr\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\",\"uuid\":\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\u201cWill\\u201d Keyes. \\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\u0022\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\u201d\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\u201ctimknight444,\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant results for Knight\\u2019s Instagram account and collected two J-Pay tablets at Central State Prison. One tablet was found in Knight\\u2019s locker and had been altered but did not contain CSAM. Investigators found the second tablet with Knight when they confiscated it. Investigators confirmed that the tablet was altered and that it contained CSAM. Also, the device contained Google search histories for information on abusing, trafficking, and raping children. Investigators found 3,410 unique artifacts of CSAM material that include images of prepubescent children. Most images came from five different video series.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Brown and Julius Jefferson are prosecuting the case for the Government.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975784\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:41:04-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788975664\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"State Inmate with Child Sexual Abuse Material Faces 20 Years in Federal Prison\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\",\"name\":\"Project Safe Childhood\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-mdga\\/pr\\/state-inmate-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-federal-prison\",\"uuid\":\"9b7861e6-d832-48a0-9103-ef51184b8c64\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EOn June 5, 2025, the Buffalo Police Department, ATF and FBI executed a search warrant at Carter\\u2019s Jackson Avenue residence in Sloan, during which they seized two loaded pistols and approximately 25 pounds of suspected marijuana. Carter was convicted of felony charges in January 2010, in Erie County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E# # # #\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:11:22-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995482\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\",\"name\":\"USAO - New York, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:07:24-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995244\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Martino Carter, 39, of Sloan, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Convicted felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdny\\/pr\\/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-drug-and-gun-charges\",\"uuid\":\"c903a18b-d277-4668-824e-e3b2e52b722c\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cI appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\u201cI am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as \\u2018a shining star at the Department of Justice.\\u2019 Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460506\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-141.jpg?itok=E6H6z9Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221846\\u0022 height=\\u00221235\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office\\u2019s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys\\u2019 Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460511\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-124.jpg?itok=hnRliz5p\\u0022 width=\\u00221858\\u0022 height=\\u00221238\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460516\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-115.jpg?itok=TRij08Y7\\u0022 width=\\u00221827\\u0022 height=\\u00221211\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003EAdditionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys\\u2019 oath of office.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\n\\n\\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460526\\u0022\\u003E\\n \\n \\n \\u003Cdiv class=\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\u0022\\u003E \\u003Cimg loading=\\u0022lazy\\u0022 src=\\u0022\\/sites\\/default\\/files\\/styles\\/banner\\/public\\/2026-09\\/usao-ndga-09032026-ag_visit-dsc03904.jpg?itok=DZNyCj0k\\u0022 width=\\u00221773\\u0022 height=\\u00221175\\u0022 alt=\\u0022USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\\u0022\\u003E\\n\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\n\\n \\u003C\\/div\\u003E\\n\\u003Cp\\u003ESince mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)\\u2014setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Offices, district attorney\\u2019s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Adams\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a\\u0026nbsp;Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAnita Balasubramanian\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJamie Bircoll\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation \\u0026amp; Trial Practice Associate at Alston \\u0026amp; Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Cespedes\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMelissa Cheape\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKassi Conley\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section.\\u0026nbsp;She worked as a Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EBernard Eyth\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDaniel Grill\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham \\u0026amp; Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESteve Hsieh\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENicholas Joy\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENathaniel Lancaster\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb \\u0026amp; Tyler and clerked for\\u0026nbsp;Judge Myrna P\\u00e9rez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonathan Letzring\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of North Carolina and clerked for Judge Phyllis Kravitch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten, Sr. of the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Emory University School of Law and Davidson College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ESara Lim\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the Middle District of Georgia and clerked for U.S. District Judge Louis Sands of the Middle District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law\\u0026nbsp;and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJonell Lucca\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as an Associate Director for Prosecutorial Operations at the OCDETF Executive Office after serving as an AUSA in two districts and clerking for Justice Wayne Kidwell of the Idaho Supreme Court. She attended University of Notre Dame Law School and Arizona State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJulia Martin\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the DeKalb County District Attorney\\u2019s Office and worked as an Associate with Greenberg Traurig. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ECole McFerren\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChristopher Meredith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. He served as an Assistant Chief Counsel with Immigration \\u0026amp; Customs Enforcement. He attended Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EJames Murray\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department and clerked for U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger of the Middle District of Florida and U.S. Magistrate Judge Daryl Bloom in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He attended Cornell Law School and the State University of New York at Geneseo.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAndrew Navratil\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Bureau of Prisons attorney serving as a Civil Division SAUSA. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen in the Northern District of Georgia and attended Georgia State University College of Law and Carleton College.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERebecca Perez-Espejo\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis an Immigration \\u0026amp; Customs Enforcement attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Training Section of the Criminal Division. She attended the Emory University School of Law and the University of Central Florida.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EEdward Robinson\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. He served as an AUSA in the Southern District of New York and clerked for U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter of the Southern District of New York. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKendall Runyan\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She worked as a Business \\u0026amp; Securities Litigation Associate at Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKaitlyn Salinas\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant\\u0026nbsp;Attorney General\\u0026nbsp;in\\u0026nbsp;the Georgia Attorney General\\u2019s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EStephen Scaife\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/strong\\u003Eis a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAmy Schwarzl\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime \\u0026amp; Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ERobert Shapiro\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law\\u0026nbsp;and Piedmont University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Silloway\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a\\u0026nbsp;Counsel at Balch \\u0026amp; Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He\\u0026nbsp;attended Mercer University School of\\u0026nbsp;Law and the University of Georgia.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAlexa Simonini\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard \\u0026amp; Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EChloe Smith\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime \\u0026amp; National Security Section. She worked as\\u0026nbsp;Special Matters \\u0026amp; Government Investigations Associate\\u0026nbsp;at King \\u0026amp; Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAdam Sunstrom\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EPatrick Suter\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice\\u2019s Criminal Division and as the Department\\u2019s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an\\u0026nbsp;AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EKatie Taylor\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis \\u0026amp; Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EDrew Waldbeser\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EConor Woods\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds \\u0026amp; Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u0022\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\u003C\\/a\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022http:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u0022\\u003Ehttp:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E###\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T11:15:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788966955\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\",\"name\":\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:55-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788959935\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":[{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460506\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"b14b1127-5ee4-4f86-ae24-51c245f1393c\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460511\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"43d86eec-7140-40a9-ae8d-0836f6d4f6d7\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460516\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"56e24643-27aa-443a-a101-fdc78dc56798\"},\"alt\":\"USAO-NDGA-09\\/03\\/2026-AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460521\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"ce7f8675-b995-4d6f-909b-de34876708bd\"},\"alt\":\"ATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\",\"title\":\"\"},{\"file\":{\"id\":\"1460526\",\"resource\":\"file\",\"uuid\":\"cbc59f3e-fc92-475f-9ae5-0b46b36a4d62\"},\"alt\":\"USAO NDGA 09\\/03\\/26 - AG Visit\",\"title\":\"\"}],\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EATLANTA \\u2013 During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney\\u2019s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office\\u2019s prosecutorial successes.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit\",\"topic\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-ndga\\/pr\\/attorney-general-todd-blanche-celebrates-prosecutorial-successes-and-record-setting\",\"uuid\":\"7a64cf38-a160-4e08-b947-18a0ba3cf6f6\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJiemaliahl Cleveland, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 23, 2025, Cleveland possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EJudge Colville scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cleveland.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:10:42-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973842\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T13:09:33-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788973773\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\",\"title\":\"Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Charges\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\",\"name\":\"Drug Trafficking\"},{\"uuid\":\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\",\"name\":\"Firearms Offenses\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-wdpa\\/pr\\/sharon-resident-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\",\"uuid\":\"ba3a7e38-4d78-4086-b524-6191825ad1d0\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EHOUSTON \\u2013 A 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAuthorities have now taken Alla Nowowiejski into custody. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett at 2 p.m. today.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients to assist them with establishing or adjusting their work status and applying for work visas. However, she allegedly never submitted the applications or only submitted them in part.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe indictment further alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents or reference numbers associated with active immigration cases unrelated to her clients. She allegedly used the documents and reference number to make the clients believe immigration authorities were processing their applications.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EIf convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Homeland Security \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service \\u2013 OIG conducted the investigation with assistance of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Harris County Constable\\u2019s Office - Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting the case.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department of Justice has created the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Ca href=\\u0022\\/opa\\/pr\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\u0022 target=\\u0022_blank\\u0022 title=\\u0022https:\\/\\/links-1.govdelivery.com\\/cl0\\/https:%2f%2fwww.justice.gov%2fopa%2fpr%2facting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement%3futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery\\/1\\/0100019d6f561d1d-a5ad8fc3-ccfc-4d37-a8ed-\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\u0022node\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\u0022e6ae8384-0ce7-4217-8137-6de5cc8173ad\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\u0022canonical\\u0022\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement\\u0026nbsp;Division\\u003C\\/a\\u003E. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp class=\\u0022text-align-center\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EAn indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-10T18:04:05-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1789077845\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\",\"name\":\"USAO - Texas, Southern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T20:06:00-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788998760\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EA 44-year-old Houston woman has been charged with mail fraud and false statements in relation to her job as an immigration attorney\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Immigration attorney arrested in alleged fraud scheme\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\",\"name\":\"Financial Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-sdtx\\/pr\\/immigration-attorney-arrested-alleged-fraud-scheme\",\"uuid\":\"d0a1b5a1-2f8a-4a33-a5d8-a3aeea64ea41\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E plead guilty on May 29, 2026, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1347, and was sentenced to ten years in prison on October 23, 2025.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained fraudulent doctors\\u2019 orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries\\u2019 treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by\\u0026nbsp;\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;submitted over $174\\u0026nbsp;million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55\\u0026nbsp;million in reimbursements.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EBefore \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E was indicted, law enforcement officers seized several of his assets that had been purchased with the proceeds of his scheme. In its recent order, the Court ordered the forfeiture of the contents of an investment account and a bank account held in the name of a company controlled by \\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E, along with three vehicles purchased with proceeds of the offense, namely, a Land Rover Range Rover, a BMW, and a Ford F-150. In total, the forfeited accounts contained a value totaling approximately $7,051,089.08.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAsset forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that allows the United States to take property derived from, or used to commit, federal crimes. It is designed to strip criminals of the proceeds of their offenses, remove the instruments used to carry them out, and- where victims can be identified- return recovered funds to the people who were harmed.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EU.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of\\u0026nbsp;the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services \\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandra Giavotella, Asset Forfeiture Coordinator, handled the forfeiture component.\\u0026nbsp;Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division\\u2019s Fraud Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\u201cFraud Division\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788995545\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\",\"name\":\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\"},{\"uuid\":\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\",\"name\":\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T19:02:57-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788994977\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u0026nbsp;- On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion entered a Final Order of Forfeiture in \\u003Cem\\u003EUnited States v. Jamie P. McNamara\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u201c\\u003Cstrong\\u003EMCNAMARA\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E\\u201d), Criminal Docket No. 22-151, requiring the forfeiture of over $7 million dollars in criminally derived funds, and 3 luxury vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of Approximately $7 Million and Three Vehicles Following Conviction of Jamie P. McNamara\",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\",\"name\":\"Fraud\"},{\"uuid\":\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\",\"name\":\"Healthcare Fraud\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/usao-edla\\/pr\\/federal-court-orders-forfeiture-approximately-7-million-and-three-vehicles-following\",\"uuid\":\"3de0624c-5732-4481-ac73-96d37a2b6035\"},{\"attachment\":\"\",\"body\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cBerkeley Law School\\u2019s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court\\u2019s decision in \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\u201cThe Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u201cTitle VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,\\u201d said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. \\u201cThe Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today\\u2019s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.\\u201d\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe Department\\u2019s investigation found that post-\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E, Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley\\u2019s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be \\u201cgrouped\\u201d with others of the same \\u201cprimary identity\\u201d in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EThe data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias \\u003Cem\\u003Eagainst\\u003C\\/em\\u003E Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law\\u2019s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department\\u2019s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EAs recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by \\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u2019s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school\\u2019s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003EMembers of the public may report possible civil rights violations at \\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u0022\\u003Ewww.civilrights.justice.gov\\/\\u003C\\/a\\u003E.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\\u003Cp\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E\\u003Cstrong\\u003ENote\\u003C\\/strong\\u003E: Read the Department\\u2019s Findings Letter \\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003Ca href=\\u0022https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/crt\\/media\\/1460556\\/dl\\u0022\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003Ehere\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/a\\u003E\\u003Cem\\u003E.\\u003C\\/em\\u003E\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"changed\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:25-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788981025\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"component\":[{\"uuid\":\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\",\"name\":\"Civil Division\"},{\"uuid\":\"781c38e6-513e-4ab2-9590-0ff78dc743a5\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights - Educational Opportunities Section\"}],\"created\":\"\\u003Ctime datetime=\\u00222026-09-09T12:36:16-04:00\\u0022\\u003E1788971776\\u003C\\/time\\u003E\\n\",\"date\":\"1788955200\",\"image\":\"\",\"number\":\"26-1033\",\"teaser\":\"\\u003Cp\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\u003Cem\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\u003C\\/em\\u003E (\\u003Cem\\u003ESFFA\\u003C\\/em\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\u003C\\/p\\u003E\",\"title\":\"Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions \",\"topic\":[{\"uuid\":\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\",\"name\":\"Civil Rights\"}],\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.justice.gov\\/opa\\/pr\\/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\",\"uuid\":\"619b3f3a-4973-45f0-aa49-c02eb29eaa82\"}]}", "content_length": 114579, "content_type": "application/json", "description": "", "status_code": 200, "success": true, "title": "", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/api/v1/press_releases.json"}, "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0064 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01FzxjMpNnTUFpnikUr65Jp2

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01FzxjMpNnTUFpnikUr65Jp2", "elapsed": 3.433937481, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":20,\\\"page\\\":9},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.581575870513916},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA federal judge has sentenced \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETimothy Adams, 55\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp; United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on February 2, 2024, Dyer County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 hang up call.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon arrival, they encountered Adams hiding behind a shed.\\\\u0026nbsp; It was determined through the investigation that Adams picked up a .38 revolver from the house and fired one round into the headboard near another occupant of the residence during a domestic violence incident.\\\\u0026nbsp; Officers confirmed the bullet hole in the headboard and recovered one spent shell casing from the .38 revolver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 22, 2025, Adams pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Due to his extensive prior criminal conviction history which includes prior violent and serious drug offenses, the Court determined that Adams qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), resulting in enhanced mandatory minimum sentencing penalties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 19, 2026, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Adams to 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, \\\\u201cAdams\\\\u2019 prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law, and his lifestyle of lawlessness has finally caught up with him. He has devoted most of his life to repeated criminal conduct, and now the federal system will do what should have been done a long time ago \\\\u2013 impose a real consequence that will prevent him from victimizing anyone else for years to come.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham, who prosecuted this case in conjunction with Assistant District Attorney General Andrew Hays, of the Tennessee District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the 29\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;Judicial District, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. Follow the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2Fa9UhD2Prx8nIY-6djnGphQDbShTcuPoA1ztwg7nk7Fg=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a087425887-d39a0ace-81d5-443d-90b4-94f9f9751545-000000\\\\/w_waT0DeB4wH-0KW5MzwPHbqOzQ-gde1skaVVR5iuw8=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eon Facebook\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fprotect2.fireeye.com%252Fv1%252Furl%253Fk=1ccf5694-7982ef19-1cc87271-74fe48680e18-429ea4c66a6734da%2526q=1%2526e=160013ce-d024-44a4-8061-4f5534e7d3ee%2526u=https%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwitter.com%25252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2FamSIP6DtqegVIpgurWZC34y6s_PeEiF-k7QfKo-xkgA=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a087425887-d39a0ace-81d5-443d-90b4-94f9f9751545-000000\\\\/IHDCbiY67kiXNKdzMzwbjd4XU0RLVWTgmdwcfpS3n7w=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eon X\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:34:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788982459\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ab4078-eaac-4d82-8ebf-cf84fb74f272\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:43:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975831\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA federal judge has sentenced \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETimothy Adams, 55\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp; United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on February 2, 2024, Dyer County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 hang up call.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon arrival, they encountered...\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dyer County Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession and Discharge of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtn\\\\/pr\\\\/dyer-county-armed-career-criminal-sentenced-15-years-prison-illegal-possession-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"acafc9b9-d79f-4c79-8db0-c1542220c438\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBerkeley Law School\\\\u2019s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court\\\\u2019s decision in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cThe Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTitle VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,\\\\u201d said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. \\\\u201cThe Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today\\\\u2019s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department\\\\u2019s investigation found that post-\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley\\\\u2019s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be \\\\u201cgrouped\\\\u201d with others of the same \\\\u201cprimary identity\\\\u201d in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eagainst\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law\\\\u2019s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department\\\\u2019s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school\\\\u2019s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMembers of the public may report possible civil rights violations at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENote\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: Read the Department\\\\u2019s Findings Letter \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/crt\\\\/media\\\\/1460556\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ehere\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981025\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbbe4f45-4e70-4db6-88ec-c35012cac37d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"781c38e6-513e-4ab2-9590-0ff78dc743a5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights - Educational Opportunities Section\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:36:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788971776\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1033\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law\\\\u2019s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court\\\\u2019s 2023 decision in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EStudents for Fair Admissions v. Harvard\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESFFA\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E), which banned race discrimination in higher education.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/joint-investigation-us-justice-department-and-us-department-education-finds-uc-berkeley-law\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"619b3f3a-4973-45f0-aa49-c02eb29eaa82\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBROWNSVILLE, Texas \\\\u2013 A 29-year-old woman has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaura Janette Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 21, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 25 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation began in early 2024 when authorities identified Edgar Alejandro Villarreal, a\\\\/k\\\\/a Fresa, as a large-scale cocaine trafficker coordinating the smuggling, transportation, and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring surveillance operations April 16, 2024, law enforcement observed Gonzalez and others arrive at a Weslaco parking lot in a Chevrolet Equinox to deliver narcotics. After spotting authorities, they fled.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAuthorities conducted a traffic stop resulted in the discovery of a gift-wrapped box containing approximately 8.8 kilograms of cocaine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed Villarreal and Edith Gonzalez, Laura Janette Gonzalez\\\\u2019s sister, coordinated the shipment that Laura Janette Gonzalez was to deliver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBoth Villarreal, 38, Brownsville, and Edith Gonzalez, 45, Donna, pleaded guilty. Edith Gonzalez received a 78-month-term, while Villarreal is scheduled to be sentenced Oct 21.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaura Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF South Texas\\\\/Houston comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol\\\\/Department of State; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrownsville Police Department also assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:32:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789000346\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T20:27:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789000025\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 29-year-old woman has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Second cocaine trafficker receives prison sentence in Homeland Security Task Force investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/second-cocaine-trafficker-receives-prison-sentence-homeland-security-task-force\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3f1e78f-094e-4fe9-9182-539ceaa2899c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 An Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $178,746,556 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall pleaded guilty on April 7 to one count of wire fraud committed while on release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\\\u2019s our department\\\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal hundreds of millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\\\u2019s neediest residents,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent permissible under the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers,\\\\u201d aid Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system. HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe amount of money Paul Randall stole from California taxpayers through his fraud scheme is staggering,\\\\u201d said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cBy exploiting a loophole in the Medi-Cal system, he was able to bill nearly $270 million dollars, then launder it to evade detection and pay kickbacks to his co-schemers. Today\\\\u2019s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone considering defrauding health care benefit programs that the federal government is actively seeking fraudulent claims and will pursue prosecution.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall, along with Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, and Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain health care services or medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirements was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMedi-Cal is California\\\\u2019s Medicaid program, a public health insurance program which provides health care services for the state\\\\u2019s neediest residents, including low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, and individuals in foster care.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy, Randall and his co-schemers exploited Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursement, non-contracted, generic drugs through Monte Vista Pharmacy. Some prescription medications purportedly were to treat pain and included Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENormally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s old payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently was not dispensed to patients, and procured by kickbacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Monte Vista billed Medi-Cal more than $269 million and was paid more than $178 million for 19 expensive, non-contracted drugs containing low-cost, generic ingredients that were not medically necessary, not provided, or both.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall also admitted that he committed the offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUSA v. Paul Richard Randall,\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E No. 20cr31).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall and others then laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring the proceeds of the Medi-Cal fraud scheme to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to Anderson, to promote the fraud scheme and to conceal and disguise the transfers from detection by law enforcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall caused the wiring of at least approximately $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for purportedly dispensing the fraud scheme medications that Anderson prescribed, on which Medi-Cal paid at least approximately $178,746,556.\\\\u0026nbsp; Randall started this fraud scheme while awaiting sentencing in another federal criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven properties, and sports memorabilia, such as Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson baseball cards worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and Kobe Bryant game worn and signed sneakers.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMekail pleaded guilty in August 2024 to two counts of health care fraud and awaits sentencing. Anderson is charged with two counts of health care fraud, and the criminal case against her is still pending.\\\\u0026nbsp; A criminal complaint was filed against Christina Mareik, a.k.a. \\\\u201cChristina Marie Sanchez Hernandez\\\\u201d, charging her with health care fraud and alleging that she played a key role in the Medi-Cal fraud scheme by creating fraudulent prescriptions for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and directing Anderson to sign them. The case against Hernandez is still pending.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the U.S. Department of Justice, Fraud Enforcement Division, are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:44:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979489\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:39:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788979190\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-154\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Orange County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Orchestrating Massive Health Care Fraud that Submitted Nearly $270 Million in Bogus Claims\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/orange-county-man-sentenced-30-years-federal-prison-orchestrating-massive-health-care\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a7e5bd4-59c1-47ce-9647-2dd6e9e8baca\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictments, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEdwin Aldana\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a separate indictment, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EKevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:37:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975453\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Rhode Island\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:31:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975081\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-91\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ri\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-grand-jury-indicts-two-men-illegal-reentry-united-states\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"439f62c4-ffee-455d-9f7f-cb523d22c6f3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to\\\\u0026nbsp;five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls.\\\\u0026nbsp;Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp; Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESkannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:16:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959768\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:04:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959085\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier\\\\u0026nbsp;has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/las-vegas-man-sentenced-5-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e3de2198-51a1-4b7e-a5a7-bcc284971c3c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERUTLAND \\\\u2013 The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 8, 2026, Todd Hoyte, 55, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 36 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier scheduled a hearing on December 3, 2026, to determine any restitution that Hoyte owes as part of his sentence. Previously, Hoyte pleaded guilty to making interstate threats and cyberstalking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between July 29, 2024, and September 25, 2024, in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats, Hoyte, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, placed more than 10 cellphone calls to Vermont, during which he left voicemails for Grand Isle County State\\\\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito. These voicemails included a threat on DiSabito\\\\u2019s life as well as insults, slurs, and derogatory language against DiSabito. At the time, DiSabito was prosecuting Hoyte for a criminal offense. In pleading guilty, Hoyte admitted that he made communications to harass and intimidate DiSabito as well as for the purpose of issuing a threat and with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat to DiSabito.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Hoyte was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:01:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788969682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:58:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788969508\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Virgin Islands Man Sentenced For Making Interstate Threats and Stalking\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/us-virgin-islands-man-sentenced-making-interstate-threats-and-stalking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"937304d3-fafe-464d-9594-9549359d226d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis serial felon\\\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\\\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957073\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\\\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPLANO, Texas \\\\u2013 Two Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, Chinese citizens, were charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with drug trafficking and money laundering violations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn May, Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville, and Judy Ly, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/lewisville-man-michigan-woman-indicted-eastern-district-texas-synthetic-drug-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E in the same conspiracy.\\\\u0026nbsp; All four defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess contraband in prison; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.\\\\u0026nbsp; Willis was also charged with possession of synthetic drugs with intent to distribute.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe indictment alleges that a China\\\\u2011based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States for distribution across the country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cWe will continue working with our Homeland Security Task Force partners to pursue and hold accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs into our country.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Homeland Security Task Force was established by President Trump\\\\u2019s executive order to protect Americans from illegal drug activity infesting our communities,\\\\u201d said FBI Director Kash Patel. \\\\u201cThis FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to identify, find, and arrest these criminals who bring drugs to our streets. These two Chinese nationals allegedly trafficked dangerous, synthetic drugs from China into the United States and smuggled them into our prison systems for illicit gain. This HSTF investigation is yet another example, among thousands, of our task forces working throughout the country, every day, to make it safer for everyone. Thank you to FBI Dallas and our great law enforcement partners across the interagency who worked this investigation with us.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s announcement underscores DEA\\\\u2019s commitment to attack the entire synthetic drug supply chain and trace these deadly substances back to their source. This investigation led us to China, and thanks to the cooperation of Chinese law enforcement, two Chinese nationals are now in custody and will face justice for their role in supplying dangerous drugs destined for Americans,\\\\u201d said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. \\\\u201cDEA\\\\u2019s global reach and chemical precursor expertise are unmatched. We are proud to bring those capabilities to the Homeland Security Task Force as we work together to identify these networks, dismantle their supply chains, and build landmark cases.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment alleges that beginning in March 2023, the defendants conspired to possess synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants, and other controlled analogues, in correctional institutions.\\\\u0026nbsp; It is alleged in the indictment that Willis purchased synthetic drugs from Xing and Song in China and had them shipped to his residence in the Eastern District of Texas and Ly\\\\u2019s residence in Michigan.\\\\u0026nbsp; It is also alleged that once Willis and Ly received the synthetic drugs, they would convert the drugs to a liquid before soaking sheets of paper in the drug mixture.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once the sheets of paper were saturated, they were then delivered to inmates at various federal and state correctional institutions across the country.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChina\\\\u2019s Ministry of Public Security arrested\\\\u0026nbsp;Xing, Song, and 19 co-conspirators, seized 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, and shutdown four illicit manufacturing sites in China. The FBI-MPS counternarcotics working group, established in January 2026, facilitated the collaborative efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal network.\\\\u0026nbsp;These results represent a major milestone in U.S.\\\\u2013China counternarcotics cooperation and underscore the effectiveness of sustained, structured coordination between both countries in addressing the international illicit chemical supply chain.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;case is\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.\\\\u0026nbsp; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:05:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788973502\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T12:22:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788970942\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chinese nationals arrested in China as Homeland Security Task Force works to stop drugs imported through the Eastern District of Texas destined for U.S. prisons\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/chinese-nationals-arrested-china-homeland-security-task-force-works-stop-drugs\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"802571be-235e-460d-8a1c-4239e6cfba14\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESAVANNAH, Georgia:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAn Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe\\\\u0026nbsp;sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. \\\\u201cMeg\\\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETorrence Veal\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 37, of Ellabell, Georgia, was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and testimony, Veal was found in possession of a Glock, Model 48, 9 mm pistol in Chatham County in December 2024. Police officers with the Chatham County Police Department responded to a shooting at a Motel 6 in Savannah where officers learned that an altercation between Veal and an employee of the motel had occurred.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter the initial altercation, Veal left and later returned, located the employee in the parking lot and fired the weapon multiple times in the employee\\\\u2019s direction. Veal then discarded the firearm before fleeing the scene. A Chatham County firearm detection K-9 officer was dispatched to the location and a search of the area resulted in the firearm being discovered in a nearby gutter.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInvestigators later determined the firearm was stolen. Veal\\\\u2019s lengthy criminal history includes prior convictions for aggravated assault.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis significant sentence is a reminder that illegally possessing a firearm is a serious offense,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\\\u201cIllegally possessed firearms are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWithin minutes of this crime occurring, Chatham County Police Department patrol officers, detectives, and forensic specialists were on the scene to interview witnesses and gather the crucial evidence needed to make an arrest,\\\\u201d said Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley. \\\\u201cWe are proud to partner with federal authorities in bringing repeat offenders to justice and keeping the streets of our county safe for everyone.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chatham County Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:52:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976357\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:35:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975311\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"87-26\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Ellabell man has been sentenced to federal prison following a firearms related plea agreement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon in possession of a firearm sentenced to nine years in prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdga\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-possession-firearm-sentenced-nine-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3431cd6b-3244-44ee-8b70-769c554fe22d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT\\\\u2019s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax\\\\/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed.\\\\u0026nbsp; The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGuilty Plea\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencing Date\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAmount of Loss\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/9\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$665,639.74\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[3] C\\\\u00e9sar Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Nieves\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$852,487.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[4] 24 Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$35,125.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[5] A La Silla LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$205,514.32\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[6] RB Marketplace, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/17\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$154,728.92\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$526,263.67\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[8] L\\\\u00edneas de Puerto Rico, Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/11\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$393,408.91\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[9] H\\\\u00e9ctor J. Baerga-Ortiz\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,833,983.81\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[10] H\\\\u00edjole Foods Bistro Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$447,241.14\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[11] HVP Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/31\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$564,545.29\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[12] BBB Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$386,483.84\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[13] BHV Food, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$225,340.52\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[14] VHB Foods Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E9\\\\/1\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/14\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$131,461.02\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[15] Carlos A. Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Ortiz\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/7\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/2\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp.\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/10\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$33,660.53\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/4\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$193,577.03\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/3\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E11\\\\/6\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$437,785.06\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[22] Gabrielle L\\\\u00f3pez-Berr\\\\u00edos\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E7\\\\/20\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E10\\\\/16\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$36,138.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[23] G Fitness \\\\u0026amp; Body Performance LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$17,309.55\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[24] Veevo LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/19\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/18\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$1,642\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[25] Patria Silfa-B\\\\u00e1ez\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$47,209.44\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:291px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E[26] Print Pro LLC\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:96px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E8\\\\/25\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:126px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E12\\\\/22\\\\/2026\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:124px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$44,630.33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. G\\\\u00f3mez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Mar\\\\u00eda Antongiorgi-Jord\\\\u00e1n.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActing U.S. Attorney H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico\\\\u2019s Financial Fraud \\\\u0026amp; Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/twenty-six-individuals-and-companies-indicted-puerto-rico-tax-debt-scheme-involving-over\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ethe indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, the July 2, 2026 \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-pleads-guilty-bribery-conspiracy-involving-loss-5-million\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Luis A. Jim\\\\u00e9nez-Guzm\\\\u00e1n\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/hacienda-employee-and-business-owner-plead-guilty-wire-fraud-conspiracy-involving-loss\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:29:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956974\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:17:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956260\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-096\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or \\\\u201cPRDT\\\\u201d) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. M\\\\u00e9ndez-Mir\\\\u00f3 on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other \\\\u201cgestors\\\\u201d, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/additional-hacienda-employee-and-business-owners-plead-guilty-bribery-conspiracies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6c4442ff-37a1-4b48-8809-0813101a5bc5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man is facing federal indictment in connection with child sex abuse crimes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERobert Paul Miller, III, 35, of West Friendship, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possessing CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, Miller distributed videos depicting adults sexually abusing minors. Miller also maintained a Dropbox storage account, associated with his email address, that contained one or more CSAM visual depictions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about Internet safety education, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E and click on the \\\\u201cResources\\\\u201d tab on the left of the page.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment is not a finding of guilt.\\\\u0026nbsp;Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Miller faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for distributing CSAM.\\\\u0026nbsp;Miller also faces a maximum of 10 years for possessing CSAM.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EActual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.\\\\u0026nbsp; A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and HCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:26:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981985\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:23:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981826\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office announced, today, that a Maryland man is facing federal indictment in connection with child sex abuse crimes. \\\\u0026nbsp;Robert Paul Miller, III, 35, of West Friendship, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possessing CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Indicted on Distribution and Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material Charges \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/man-indicted-distribution-and-possession-child-sex-abuse-material-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8aa007e2-1440-4260-acce-0633cede2b39\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California\\\\u2019s history.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\\\u2019s most vulnerable residents,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,\\\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\\\u201cHHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\\\u2019s our department\\\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Paul Richard Randall\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, No. CR 20-00031-GW).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California\\\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:25:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981901\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:12:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981146\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1035\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8f0bf01d-a76e-49d6-884a-ce46e8e96164\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*** Video of the press conference is available on the YouTube channel of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/wvs\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E for the Southern District of West Virginia: \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/watch?v=AYa0R7zLolo\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/watch?v=AYa0R7zLolo\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E. ***\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Attorney Moore Capito joined with U.S. Marshal Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police Colonel James Mitchell, and other law enforcement partners today to announce the success of \\\\u201cOperation Coal Country.\\\\u201d The multi-week enforcement initiative targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, violent fugitives, and other wanted individuals throughout\\\\u0026nbsp;the Southern District of\\\\u0026nbsp;West Virginia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe 59 individuals arrested during the operation, which began August 13, 2026, and concluded last week, include 16 convicted sex offenders wanted on registration violations and 10 individuals charged with new sex offenses. The West Virginia State Police conducted over 380 compliance checks of registered sex offenders as part of Operation Coal Country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEach arrest resulting from these targeted enforcement operations protects our communities and makes them safer,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Moore Capito. \\\\u201cThe success of this operation continues the momentum we\\\\u2019ve created through dedicated, collaborative, and aggressive efforts with our law enforcement partners.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThose arrested during Operation Coal Country include Clinton G. McNeely, 31, of Lyburn. A federal grand jury indicted McNeely on August 18, 2026, on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of production of obscene material.\\\\u0026nbsp;McNeely was arrested on August 20, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo convicted sex offenders were indicted as part of Operation Coal Country after allegedly violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, SORNA provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAmong the other individuals arrested during Operation Coal Country, five face federal drug charges, three allegedly violated federal supervised release, and two allegedly violated terms of\\\\u0026nbsp;their federal pretrial release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOperation Coal Country focused heavily on sex offender compliance and fugitive apprehension throughout the West Virginia State Police Troop 5 area of Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne counties. Several of those arrested face charges in additional counties within the Southern District of West Virginia. Those arrested also include a fugitive wanted for murder in Florida who was captured in Dunbar, and a suspect in the sexual abuse of a female juvenile family member in Parkersburg who was arrested in Arizona. Participating law enforcement also found a missing child after an alleged parental abduction in Wood County.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe operation brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement resources in a coordinated effort to locate and apprehend fugitives while also conducting enforcement activities involving registered sex offenders. Investigators worked to identify registered sex offenders who were not complying with state and federal registration requirements and to locate individuals wanted for crimes involving sexual offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers also seized 75.1 grams of fentanyl, 1.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, 33.3 grams of cocaine, approximately $6,000, one firearm, and assorted ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe success of Operation Coal Country demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combine their resources toward a common mission,\\\\u201d said\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Marshal\\\\u0026nbsp;Jack Chambers. \\\\u201cFifty-nine arrests over the course of this operation means 59 wanted individuals were located and taken into custody. More importantly, this operation placed a significant emphasis on protecting our communities from individuals who have committed sex offenses or failed to comply with their registration requirements. The U.S. Marshals Service and West Virginia State Police will continue working together to investigate noncompliant sex offenders and apprehend dangerous fugitives throughout southern West Virginia.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen law enforcement works together, criminals have fewer places to hide,\\\\u201d said Colonel James Mitchell, superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. \\\\u201cOperation Coal Country shows the power of a coordinated, proactive approach to protecting our communities and holding offenders accountable. The West Virginia State Police is proud to stand with the U.S. Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in doing everything we can to keep the people of West Virginia safe.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Southern District of West Virginia Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force and the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) led Operation Coal Country in partnership with numerous other law enforcement organizations:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e932b7574d7c49d3666ab6f589bdacda3\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8b78ccedc9beead774a1f3abff843b21\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e34c9701f642db3bb3c3c3dbbe6039a4f\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENational Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb85b0835c9a2ecd81ec07520467224a8\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWVSP Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e9a8f19fdc45cbfdd661c9794fdc6d925\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWVSP Sex Offender Registry\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebed9d76c384928cfe2f1ddc564a8bca9\\\\u0022\\\\u003EWest Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Parole Services\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ed7f09829b42b50a42f48bb6b394ce7f5\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFayette County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ee95b73bc133d8254d434465af1334645\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJackson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022efa66e004f731e83bedcc0dfdd83efb2e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e88a3f58699e85a84631d2ace8c0c414a\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELogan County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1443d49941ee39c6a1b379bb0dbf8a68\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMercer County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e751452fa8563562de01b11f93d53f74b\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPutnam County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8de7d04125198c25f007511380c81041\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERaleigh County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/scsf_4.jpg?itok=oqmwOIGP\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221430\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00221073\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Picture of room full of monitors\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; Room of scam center evidence seized by the Madagascar authorities, which the Strike Force team assisted in processing.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; **********************************************\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EAbout the Scam Center Strike Force\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the FBI\\\\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/word-edit.gov.online.office365.us\\\\/we\\\\/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1\\\\u0026amp;ui=en-US\\\\u0026amp;rs=en-US\\\\u0026amp;wdenableroaming=1\\\\u0026amp;mscc=1\\\\u0026amp;hid=303739A2-A041-0000-4CDF-A38273CB25A2.0\\\\u0026amp;uih=sharepointcom\\\\u0026amp;wdlcid=en-US\\\\u0026amp;jsapi=1\\\\u0026amp;jsapiver=v2\\\\u0026amp;corrid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;usid=9772cf80-6dd2-3b41-0eba-0c12f954c3b3\\\\u0026amp;newsession=1\\\\u0026amp;sftc=1\\\\u0026amp;hfto=1788875254784\\\\u0026amp;uihit=docaspx\\\\u0026amp;muv=1\\\\u0026amp;ats=PairwiseBroker\\\\u0026amp;cac=1\\\\u0026amp;sams=1\\\\u0026amp;mtf=1\\\\u0026amp;sfp=1\\\\u0026amp;sdp=1\\\\u0026amp;hch=1\\\\u0026amp;hwfh=1\\\\u0026amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%2Fsites%2FUSA-DC-PublicAffairs%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F876092572fbd48d8a37fdcaafa20098b\\\\u0026amp;dchat=1\\\\u0026amp;sc=%7B%22pmo%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fdoj365.sharepoint.us%22%2C%22pmshare%22%3Atrue%7D\\\\u0026amp;wdorigin=DocLib\\\\u0026amp;ctp=LeastProtected\\\\u0026amp;rct=Normal\\\\u0026amp;wdhostclicktime=1788875254625\\\\u0026amp;csiro=1\\\\u0026amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush#_ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003E[1]\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings.\\\\u0026nbsp;Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President\\\\u2019s Order.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFounded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force. Today\\\\u2019s seizures were handled by AUSA Seifert and AUSA Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office as well as AUSA Mac Caille Peturrson, of the U.S. Attonrey\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Alaska, along with the FBI\\\\u2019s Chicago Field Office and U.S. Secret Service\\\\u2019s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance from Paralegals Peter Bleicken and Jessica In, both of the D.C. U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office. The Madagascar investigations are being handled by AUSA Peturrson, with AUSAs Seifert and Blaylock, along with FBI\\\\u2019s Honolulu Field Office. The FBI thanks authorities in Madagascar for their assistance.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:28:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788964120\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"94a842b5-76f7-40ce-bf38-45e2c75c995e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alaska\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:22:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460531\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7d422d54-4b49-4069-94c4-86df0dacae58\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with typed message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460541\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8fed6f2-c20a-4269-8f28-f191f8d0f981\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Green and white chat box with message\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460546\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"053a3003-e4b4-455f-837f-a8d35e5b74fa\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of 2 boxes containing cell phones\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460551\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9ff80a75-8cbd-45bd-aaba-489b5fc77f39\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Picture of room full of monitors\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced actions taken by the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. The Strike Force and the Department of the Treasury took coordinated actions against Xinbi Guarantee (\\\\u201cXinbi\\\\u201d), an illicit marketplace for scam services, and the Strike Force deployed to Madagascar to assist in the taking down of 13 Chinese-run scam compounds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Scam Center Strike Force Conducts Seizures of Chinese-Run Illicit Scammer Marketplace, and Restrains $52 Million in Laundered Crypto Scammer Funds In One Day\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Cybercrime\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/scam-center-strike-force-conducts-seizures-chinese-run-illicit-scammer-marketplace-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da2b4dca-9197-49b3-b168-5c6623ba2562\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. PAUL \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Erick Emilio Diaz-Aguilar, aka \\\\u201cHomie,\\\\u201d 34, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The defendant was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson on September 9, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Diaz-Aguilar managed the \\\\u201cDiaz-Aguilar Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)\\\\u201d and is a member of the\\\\u0026nbsp;Sure\\\\u00f1os, a transnational criminal organization originating in Southern California. He is one of several defendants in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Diaz-Aguilar et al.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOther defendants in the case include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e74d419e99110e5efd26fb500b06c1a45\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJuan Martin Elvira Jr.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Rochester, Minnesota, sentenced to 75 months in prison on June 11, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec237b6ed2063f44cc9f0d6e5cf4980a7\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEdward Gonzalez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Hastings, Minnesota, sentenced to 120 months in prison on June 3, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebc0579d0d7543cc895a4db017be8b330\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EEric Anthony Rodriguez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of St. Paul, Minnesota, sentenced to 260 months in prison on August 13, 2026, following a six-day trial where he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e5d8501240cbcf5f3a5d5ddf09defdbe4\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBruce Michael Orton,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E of North Branch, Minnesota, sentenced to 140 months in prison on June 16, 2026, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in the summer of 2024, law enforcement began investigating suspected methamphetamine trafficking in Rochester, Minnesota. In August 2024, agents executed a search warrant at a coconspirator\\\\u2019s residence and found approximately 7.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,500 M-30 fentanyl pills, a variety of marijuana products, cellphones, and nearly $8,000 in cash. A review of the coconspirator\\\\u2019s phone revealed messages with \\\\u201cHomie,\\\\u201d the coconspirator\\\\u2019s methamphetamine supplier, with transactions going back to April 2024. Agents later determined that \\\\u201cHomie\\\\u201d was Diaz-Aguilar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom October 2024 through January 2025, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Diaz-Aguilar and executed a search warrant at a stash house in Hastings, Minnesota, where agents found a bulk quantity of methamphetamine and used drug packaging that demonstrated hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine had recently traveled through the house.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn December 2024, Diaz-Aguilar traveled to Chicago with two coconspirators to obtain a bulk quantity of methamphetamine and traveled in a two-vehicle convoy back to Minnesota. Police stopped the vehicle driven by one of the defendant\\\\u2019s coconspirators, Edward Gonzalez, and located approximately 42 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAgents later executed a search warrant at Diaz-Aguilar\\\\u2019s residence and seized his phones. Investigators found messages between the defendant and another coconspirator, Bruce Orton, about drug transactions dating back to August 2023 including discussions on pricing and the defendant\\\\u2019s access to 170 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents also found a ledger in Diaz-Aguilar\\\\u2019s closet that contained sales entries of bulk quantities of methamphetamine to others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic deadly narcotics in Minnesota will be met with decisive action. My office remains fully committed to protecting the public by dismantling the criminal networks that put our communities at risk,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday, the ringleader of an organization responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,\\\\u201d said DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\\\u201cNo one is above the law and today\\\\u2019s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighborhoods.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,\\\\u201d said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/five-members-surenos-affiliated-transnational-criminal-organization-charged-narcotics\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EApril 8, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:14:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995647\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995556\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 20 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Supervisory Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sure\\\\u00f1os and Sinaloa Cartel\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-20-years-imprisonment-supervisory-role-methamphetamine-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d05b30cf-e8a6-4190-997c-4658cb4e8895\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERICHMOND, Va. \\\\u2013 A federal jury convicted three defendants on charges relating to a Medicaid fraud scheme through a Henrico-based mental health agency. This case is part of the Trump Administration\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court records and evidence presented at trial, twin sisters E\\\\u0027mon and Armone\\\\u0027 Ambers, 31, and Traquan Brown, 32, participated in a scheme to defraud Medicaid through a mental health agency known as Divine Youth Counseling, LLC. E\\\\u2019mon Ambers was Divine Youth\\\\u2019s Chief Executive Officer and Armone\\\\u2019 Ambers was Divine Youth\\\\u2019s Program Director. Brown, who was involved in a romantic relationship with E\\\\u2019mon, was employed by Divine Youth and purported to provide counseling services on behalf of the agency.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, between January 2022 and October 2025, Divine Youth submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent claims to Medicaid for mental health services known as Crisis Stabilization and Mobile Crisis. The defendants falsely claimed that two mental health professionals simultaneously provided services to Medicaid recipients, when in truth, at most a single mental health professional was present for the service. The false claims that two professionals provided \\\\u201cTeam Treatment\\\\u201d services caused millions of dollars of loss to Medicaid.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe defendants also paid more than $470,000 in illegal kickbacks in the form of purchasing hotel rooms for Medicaid recipients. The defendants used the hotel rooms to incentivize recipients to obtain Medicaid services from Divine Youth, a practice the defendants knew and understood was wrong and unlawful.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EE\\\\u0027mon and Armone\\\\u0027 Ambers were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, payment of kickbacks, and transactional money laundering. E\\\\u0027mon faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 92 years in prison, and Armone\\\\u0027 faces a mandatory minimum of two years and up to 42 years in prison. Brown was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. He faces up to ten years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Court will hold a separate proceeding on Dec. 14 to address the defendants\\\\u2019 forfeiture obligations. The assets subject to forfeiture include $5,937,156.30 in funds seized pursuant to a federal seizure warrant.\\\\u0026nbsp;Additional forfeitable property includes assets involved in the transactional money laundering offenses, including two matching Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons and a residence purchased in Richmond, Texas.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe FBI\\\\u2019s Richmond Field Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General investigated this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Day, Janet Jin Ah Lee, and Leighton Watson are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u0027Fraud Division\\\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-24.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:02:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788966128\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T11:01:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788966109\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE\\\\u0027mon and Armone\\\\u0027 Ambers, 31, and Traquan Brown, 32, were convicted on charges relating to an $11M Medicaid fraud scheme through a Henrico-based mental health agency.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal jury convicts three conspirators in $11M Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-three-conspirators-11m-medicaid-fraud-and-kickback-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e52db9de-991b-4213-a4d5-b37ebac1356d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison\\\\u0026nbsp;for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Fentanyl is tearing apart families and poisoning our communities at an alarming rate,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cThis sentence sends a clear and unwavering message to drug traffickers: if you flood our streets with lethal chemicals for profit, you will be caught, and you will face severe consequences in federal prison. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these deadly networks and protect the people of Las Vegas.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEvery drug trafficker operates with a single, ruthless purpose\\\\u2014profiting from human suffering,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. \\\\u201cAlongside our partners, the FBI will continue dismantling their networks, erase their poison from our streets, and ensure every single participant faces justice behind bars.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, from October 28, 2023, to January 21, 2024, Brooks, also known as \\\\u201cGrizz,\\\\u201d conspired with co-defendant Geronimo Gutierrez to distribute pills containing fentanyl. During a drug transaction, Brooks possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine and paid cash to an individual for approximately 2,000 pills.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance. Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams, about the size of a few grains of salt, can be lethal.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrooks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder. On January 12, 2026, Gutierrez was sentenced to 97 months in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:30:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978631\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:28:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788978510\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison\\\\u0026nbsp;for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-10-years-prison-fentanyl-trafficking-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4ffad750-ad9c-4111-b4e3-aa40612c4458\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court, stemming from charges for his role as a drug supplier.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Alcedo Hodge, Jr., 30, of Parkville, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges are in connection with a multi-state Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) drug investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0067 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01HrnHJBYxsn5RXWQJwFZR4V

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01HrnHJBYxsn5RXWQJwFZR4V", "elapsed": 4.498452906, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":9},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.514833927154541},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS.\\\\u0026nbsp;The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi\\\\u2019s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi,\\\\u0026nbsp;either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTax fraud isn\\\\u2019t just a numbers game\\\\u2014it\\\\u2019s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,\\\\u201d said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. \\\\u201cThis sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:06:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440772\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440658\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Asset Forfeiture\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/tampa-man-sentenced-46-months-federal-prison-and-ordered-pay-over-700000-internal\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cf777ea7-8b90-4b2a-8bf1-46828e0572e3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization\\\\u2019s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attach\\\\u00e9 Office in Bogot\\\\u00e1 worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:53:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:52:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461529\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Leader \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/homeland-security-task-force-yields-30-year-prison-sentence-colombian-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"10622a9c-12d0-47cb-aea8-5ff1dd12c949\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECLEVELAND \\\\u2013 Today, a federal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter a nearly two-week-long trial in front of U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, Kaprise Sledge, 24, of Warren, and Thomas Sledge, 44, of Youngstown, were found guilty of:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e92996019d140c31fad608ab11ecd1911\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMurder of an Officer and Employee of the United States\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e95b78f70ed40969a63815e5a41943abf\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUsing, Carrying, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to evidence presented to the jury, on March 2, 2024, the two men aided and abetted one another in the premeditated killing of Jont\\\\u2019e Davis, 33. At the time of his murder, Davis was carrying out his official duties as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, in Warren, Ohio, when he was struck by gunfire coming from a gray Dodge Ram truck that drove up next to his parked mail truck. An eyewitness called 911 and identified the vehicle involved in the shooting. Investigators were able to confirm that the truck was registered to Kaprise Sledge.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough video surveillance footage and telephone records, investigators were able to establish that Kaprise Sledge and his father, Thomas, stalked Davis along his delivery route for approximately an hour and a half before shooting and killing him.\\\\u0026nbsp;Additionally, during the execution of a search warrant at Kaprise Sledge\\\\u2019s residence, agents located evidence of drug trafficking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10. Both Sledges face a term of up to life imprisonment on the murder charge, and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life imprisonment on the firearms charges. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Postal Inspection Service Cleveland Office and the Warren Police Department investigated the case. The Trumbull County Action Group Drug Task Force, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and Trumbull County Emergency Management also assisted in this investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E Carol Skutnik\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPeter Daly\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBrett Hammond\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESamuel Lioi\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.uspis.gov\\\\/report\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.uspis.gov\\\\/report\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T16:27:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789072061\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"611b8488-271c-4241-bf7d-6cfc133e1a8d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:54:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788468887\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Father and Son Convicted for Their Roles in the Murder of a USPS Mail Carrier\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndoh\\\\/pr\\\\/father-and-son-convicted-their-roles-murder-usps-mail-carrier\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b8a7be0a-a58d-49f4-baee-f019874fe4bc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENEWARK, N.J. \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe call comes as the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In an\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal\\\\/media\\\\/1459461\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eopen letter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;issued this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe initiative builds on prevention efforts already underway in New Jersey. Last month, our office obtained an\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/middlesex-county-man-admits-production-and-possession-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eadmission of guilt\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by a defendant who had persuaded and enticed minors to produce and send child pornography. In addition, a defendant was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/philadelphia-county-child-predator-sentenced-27-years-child-exploitation-offenses\\\\u0022\\\\u003Esentenced to 324 months\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for multiple child exploitation offenses.\\\\u0026nbsp; In June, our office secured a\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/child-predator-sentenced-320-months-prison-producing-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003E320 months prison sentence\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for a defendant who was producing child pornography. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to find and prosecute cases of child exploitation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe digital world is evolving faster than ever, and with it come increasingly sophisticated threats to our children. By the time law enforcement becomes involved, it is often too late to prevent the harm that has already been done to a victim. The Department of Justice is providing these resources to help parents, concerned citizens, and communities recognize the warning signs, take action, and, most importantly, prevent grave harm before it occurs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETraining can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice\\\\u2019s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Jersey can also help connect New Jersey organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOrganizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of New Jersey at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. CEOS\\\\u0027s prevention resources are available through the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal\\\\/criminal-ceos\\\\/prevention\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDepartment of Justice\\\\u0027s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:31:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788463872\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:21:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788463293\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-190\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"United States Attorney Robert Frazer Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation Prevention\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nj\\\\/pr\\\\/united-states-attorney-robert-frazer-encourages-schools-youth-organizations-partner-doj\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"52f0ea85-ed8c-4d46-92e5-2c952d0549a1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.\\\\u0026nbsp; The indictment was filed in August 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENathan Carlos Hernandez, age 20, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sebastian Michael Waters, age 19, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\\\u0026nbsp;Tino Sage Roubideaux, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 20 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Discharging a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence and Aiding and Abetting is a mandatory minimum of 10 years\\\\u2019 up to Life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the crime of violence of attempted murder or assault with a dangerous weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp; The maximum penalty upon conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person is 15 years imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; The charges also carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to five years following a term of imprisonment, a special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAccording to the charging document, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux were members of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a gang with members and associates located throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and elsewhere.\\\\u0026nbsp; The gang is alleged to have committed, attempted to commit, and conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving assault, as well as other crimes, including drug dealing and firearms trafficking.\\\\u0026nbsp; Participation in criminal activity by a GD member (sometimes referred to as \\\\u201cwork\\\\u201d), especially violence directed at persons perceived as a threat to the gang, increased the respect accorded to the member and could result in the member\\\\u2019s elevation and increased status within the gang.\\\\u0026nbsp; One of the alleged purposes of the gang was to keep victims, other gang members, rivals, and community members in fear of the gang.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAs alleged in the indictment, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux conspired to murder a person, and on January 4, 2026, these defendants located the victim at a business in Sioux Falls and attempted \\\\u0026nbsp;to murder him by shooting him more than one time.\\\\u0026nbsp; Two firearms were used in the attack.\\\\u0026nbsp; As gang members, these defendants sought to maintain or increase their respective position within the Gangster Disciples.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAll defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.\\\\u0026nbsp; A trial date of October 26, 2026, has been set.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:37:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788446255\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:20:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788441611\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The indictment was filed in August 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sioux Falls Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Firearms Offenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/gang-members-indicted-racketeering-involving-attempted-murder-and-firearms-offenses\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9926b53d-fbbc-4496-b021-d747ac051449\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMADISON, WIS. \\\\u2013 Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Bell, 56, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Bell pleaded guilty to this charge on May 18, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 8, 2022, a woman reported that her gun had been stolen from the trunk of her car. The gun was returned to the woman approximately one year later. DNA testing of the gun revealed Bell\\\\u2019s DNA on the handgrip and the trigger. At sentencing Bell admitted that he had stolen the gun to pay a drug debt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBell is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions; including convictions for false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and possessing a firearm as a felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt sentencing, Judge Peterson stressed that the goal of sentencing was to protect the community and found that Bell was an acute risk to public safety. Judge Peterson said that Bell\\\\u2019s pattern of sustained harassment of and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge against Bell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:58:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454717\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:56:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454567\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdwi\\\\/pr\\\\/madison-man-sentenced-more-3-years-illegally-possessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"195c7582-78eb-44ff-a6d3-1bb814a4e98f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Marshall Day,\\\\u0026nbsp;40,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to\\\\u0026nbsp;108\\\\u0026nbsp;months in federal prison\\\\u0026nbsp;in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDay, aka \\\\u201cKingDaddy89\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;and \\\\u201cMike LeRoy,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;pleaded March 12, 2026, before\\\\u0026nbsp;Judge Jia M. Cobb\\\\u0026nbsp;to one count of transportation of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;In addition to the\\\\u0026nbsp;108-month prison sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Day to serve\\\\u0026nbsp;10\\\\u0026nbsp;years of supervised release and to register as a sex\\\\u0026nbsp;offender.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, Day logged into a fetish website and\\\\u0026nbsp;attempted\\\\u0026nbsp;to arrange a sexual encounter. One of the people\\\\u0026nbsp;with whom Day\\\\u0026nbsp;exchanged messages\\\\u0026nbsp;asked Day if he was \\\\u201cinto taboo\\\\u201d because he had a \\\\u201cgirl in his life.\\\\u201d Day replied that he was \\\\u201cvery much into taboo\\\\u201d and had \\\\u201cno hard limits.\\\\u201d As the chat continued, the individual explained that he had a nine-year-old daughter and \\\\u201cwhen we play its more like a game.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter further text messages,\\\\u0026nbsp;on October 9,\\\\u0026nbsp;Day exchanged phone numbers with the person and arranged to meet\\\\u0026nbsp;in the District\\\\u2019s Chinatown neighborhood\\\\u0026nbsp;so that he could\\\\u0026nbsp;sexually abuse\\\\u0026nbsp;the\\\\u0026nbsp;purported girl. On October 10, Day arrived at the prearranged meeting spot. A man sitting nearby asked Day if he was \\\\u201cMike.\\\\u201d When Day\\\\u0026nbsp;indicated\\\\u0026nbsp;that he was, law enforcement from the\\\\u0026nbsp;FBI and Metropolitan Police Department\\\\u2019s\\\\u0026nbsp;Child Exploitation Task Force\\\\u0026nbsp;arrested him.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhile traveling from Maryland to the District, Day had his cell phone in his possession. In the phone\\\\u2019s download folder, Day had stored six videos\\\\u0026nbsp;depicting child sex abuse\\\\u0026nbsp;that he had downloaded during the previous two days and a pair of\\\\u0026nbsp;still images\\\\u0026nbsp;of child pornography\\\\u0026nbsp;he had downloaded earlier that year.\\\\u0026nbsp;Day acknowledged that he had no legal justification for having the files on his phone as he traveled from Maryland into the District that day.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by FBI\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.\\\\u202fIt was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u202fRichard Kelley.\\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIt\\\\u0026nbsp;was brought as part of the Department of Justice\\\\u0027s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u0027s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better\\\\u202flocate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as\\\\u202fidentify\\\\u202fand rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u202f\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr343\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/twitter.com\\\\/USAO_DC\\\\u0022\\\\u003EX\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.instagram.com\\\\/usao_dc\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EInstagram\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/@usao_dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYouTube\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOr at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:44:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788468265\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:43:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788468185\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarshall Day,\\\\u0026nbsp;40,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to\\\\u0026nbsp;108\\\\u0026nbsp;months in federal prison\\\\u0026nbsp;in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Largo, Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to Nine Years in Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/largo-maryland-man-sentenced-dc-nine-years-prison-transportation-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d822fa8e-c4a3-4654-bd6b-b5434cb58aae\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESACRAMENTO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer\\\\u2019s money, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an Executive Manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing the scheme, he diverted money from the business\\\\u2019s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client\\\\u2019s credit card for items the client never ordered and for invoices that did not exist, then transferred those proceeds to himself. Additionally, he instructed clients to tender payments directly to him and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted, or made false entries to the business\\\\u2019s accounting software.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAbplanalp is scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on Sept. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:44:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475464\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:37:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475058\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChristopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer\\\\u2019s money.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Roseville Man Charged with Defrauding Employer of over $2.3 Million\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/roseville-man-charged-defrauding-employer-over-23-million\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4592e3b1-f91b-4a1a-9d5d-f2d4ba5e9dba\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder Maryland\\\\u2019s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRelocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cIf a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration\\\\u2019s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Department\\\\u2019s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.servicemembers.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EServicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Elegalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:50:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461402\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:52:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457937\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1016\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5e295118-6b91-4f95-a8d1-4044b5c2a0b2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Servicemembers Initiative\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-seeks-relief-maryland-military-families-illegal-fees\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fbb8373d-8c85-4fe2-8149-8addc7e11650\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\\\u2013 Dondre Hudson, 28, of Cincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on August 22, 2025, Hudson picked up a package containing methamphetamine in Dunbar, West Virginia, and delivered it to a location in St. Albans. As part of his guilty plea, Hudson admitted that he knew the package contained a controlled substance, that he communicated by cell phone with another individual who directed him where to deliver it, and that the individual was a co-conspirator in a methamphetamine trafficking scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHudson further admitted that he became aware of and knowingly and intentionally participated in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy prior to August 2025. Hudson assisted the conspiracy by delivering tens of thousands of dollars to a methamphetamine supplier on multiple occasions. Hudson used his cell phone to facilitate drug trafficking offenses during the conspiracy, coordinating with the co-conspirator and the supplier to facilitate the money deliveries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHudson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and\\\\u0026nbsp;the Kanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/wvs\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Southern District of West Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.login.uscourts.gov\\\\/csologin\\\\/login.jsf?pscCourtId=WVSDC\\\\u0026amp;appurl=https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.wvsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/showpage.pl?16\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-77.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:58:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461904\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6decd6a7-23cb-4fef-b50c-791f6604191f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:56:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788443801\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdwv\\\\/pr\\\\/cincinnati-man-pleads-guilty-federal-drug-crime\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1e58e20b-1cf5-411f-95e7-c28fdcec6c6c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONCORD \\\\u2013 Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/media\\\\/1460166\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).\\\\u0026nbsp;Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations.\\\\u0026nbsp; The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:09:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458971\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Hampshire\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"U.S. Marshals Service\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:06:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458799\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/pr\\\\/hampton-man-indicted-failing-register-sex-offender\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9d8a2f18-3ec1-465b-956d-ba349d0f76b1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013 Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents,\\\\u0026nbsp;from as early as August 2020, and continuing through July 2021, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Blair and others devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by making materially false and fraudulent representations. Blair\\\\u2019s role in the bank fraud scheme included preparing and submitting fictitious and fraudulent paystubs for his clients in the names of companies to show fabricated income from employers as well as altered bank statements showing vastly overstated account balances. This caused the mortgage lenders to approve and fund mortgage loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair from his clients. The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:58:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788447498\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:20:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788445201\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013 Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Blair pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $15,475, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Guyanese National Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/guyanese-national-sentenced-mortgage-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6ef3f2d3-7d88-4610-943a-e52671207622\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMEDFORD, Ore.\\\\u2014A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrenton Alexander Van Zoeren, 19, has been charged with assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, and willfully injuring or committing any depredation against property of the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on January 14 and 21, 2026, Van Zoeren damaged a window at the Eugene federal building. On January 28, 2026, Van Zoeren assaulted a Federal Protective Service officer.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVan Zoeren made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on December 7, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Van Zoeren faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:28:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788478088\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c38d032-2199-40bd-9062-4e5453cae5a5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oregon\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:26:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788477987\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Creswell Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer and Damaging Federal Property\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-or\\\\/pr\\\\/creswell-man-charged-assaulting-federal-officer-and-damaging-federal-property\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0f090c62-cd26-4aef-afc1-016a85894ab8\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPatel admitted that he and his co-conspirators, in aggregate, obtained approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and their illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough Patel\\\\u2019s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield.: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003Eth\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, 20, five, 20, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:38:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788467895\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T16:36:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788467796\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, and an Indian national, pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Indian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Gambling Ring\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/indian-national-pleads-guilty-role-illegal-gambling-ring-1\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0919d25-a7e3-4e1c-99c5-ce5e02af007b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Carlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cSalazar-Garcia laundered money for Mexican drug traffickers and attempted to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into our country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cBut federal law enforcement officers working collaboratively across agencies and jurisdictions spoiled his scheme, seized his drugs, and haled him into court to face the significant consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDrug traffickers think they can hide behind fake produce companies and secret shipments of electronics, but they are wrong,\\\\u201d said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. \\\\u201cCarlos Salazar-Garcia tried to use these schemes to poison our communities and launder over a million dollars, but he underestimated our persistence and partnerships. By working together across borders, HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners successfully dismantled his network, and now he will spend his time in federal prison thinking about the consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhether cocaine is hidden in fruit, electronics, or behind the fa\\\\u00e7ade of legitimate businesses, drug traffickers will continue looking for new ways to move their poison,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cWhat they cannot hide is the determination of the Homeland Security Task Force and our law enforcement partners. This investigation uncovered a calculated effort to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine, and today\\\\u2019s sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his role in that operation.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In December 2022, federal agents in Laredo, Texas inspected a shipment from Mexico and located 119 pounds of cocaine concealed among electronic transformers destined for a farmers market in Clayton County, Georgia. The investigation revealed that a sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia coordinated the shipment.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn November 2023, agents at the U.S.\\\\/Mexico border in McAllen, Texas intercepted approximately 66 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of limes. Agents learned that the limes were destined for another sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia. Additional investigation revealed that, through a variety of financial transactions, Salazar-Garcia and co-defendant Andrea Principe laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYesterday, Carlos Salazar-Garcia, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine importation, and money laundering charges on April 20, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndrea Principe, 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pled guilty on June 30, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She will be sentenced on October 15, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Amy Palumbo prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:02:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788444159\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:00:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788444024\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECarlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Operator of Sham Produce Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Importation and Money Laundering\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/operator-sham-produce-companies-sentenced-federal-prison-cocaine-importation-and-money\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d59c84d-efc1-4806-aa73-cd3ec19b3a5e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote, a press release posted earlier today, Sept. 3, was mistakenly a reprint of an Aug. 21 press release about a related decision. Below is the correct press release regarding a decision issued on Monday, Aug. 31, in this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ECenter for Biological Diversity v. Burgum\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u2014 one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.\\\\u2019s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-obstruct\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erelated ruling\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E issued last month.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStates cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress\\\\u2019s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,\\\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. \\\\u201cThe Department is pleased with the court\\\\u2019s decision. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation\\\\u2019s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis is another victory for American energy independence,\\\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\\\u201cTwo weeks ago, this same court affirmed the federal government\\\\u2019s authority to protect energy security from state overreach through a Defense Production Act order restarting this critical domestic source of oil. This week\\\\u2019s decision protects this critical resource against special interest groups who sought to stymie that same oil production through a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. We are committed to unleashing American energy, as President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice and all federal agencies to do.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing a decade of inactivity, Sable last year sought to restart offshore oil and gas production on Platform Harmony in the Santa Ynez Unit. Plaintiff environmental groups sued, challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)\\\\u2019s April 2025 decision not to require revision of the development and production plan for Platform Harmony related to Sable\\\\u2019s restart plans. In its decision dismissing the case for lack of standing, the court held that the plaintiffs have not alleged a procedural injury and their theory of causation is \\\\u201cfar too hypothetical and attenuated\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cnot fairly traceable to BOEM and Sable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe court instead explained that plaintiffs\\\\u2019 asserted injuries stem from offshore oil and gas operations generally, not from BOEM\\\\u2019s decision. The court further held that the plaintiffs\\\\u2019 injuries are not redressable because BOEM has substantial discretion in deciding whether to require revision of the plan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAttorneys with ENRD\\\\u2019s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:50:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472222\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:47:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472076\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1017\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ECenter for Biological Diversity v. Burgum\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u2014 one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.\\\\u2019s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-obstruct\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erelated ruling\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E issued last month.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Court Dismisses Another Attempt to Stymie Sable Offshore Corporation\\\\u2019s Oil and Gas Operations\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-dismisses-another-attempt-stymie-sable-offshore-corporations-oil-and-gas\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cd06caf5-2359-45cf-b65d-88be6178df9b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a significant victory for President Trump\\\\u2019s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this week affirmed the federal government\\\\u2019s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a comprehensive decision, the court rejected the State of California\\\\u2019s radical attempt to shut down the Santa Ynez Pipeline and dismissed efforts by California and environmental groups to impose state\\\\u2011level barriers designed to obstruct federally mandated operations during a declared national energy emergency.\\\\u0026nbsp;The court\\\\u2019s decision ensures that sound federal energy policy \\\\u2014 not California\\\\u2019s disruptive anti-energy measures \\\\u2014 governs operation of this critical infrastructure.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStates cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress\\\\u2019s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,\\\\u201d said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. \\\\u201cThe Department is pleased with the court\\\\u2019s decision to affirm this commonsense principle, upholding the Department of Energy\\\\u2019s lawful and constitutional order under the Defense Production Act. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation\\\\u2019s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis ruling upholds decisive federal action to protect national security by restarting the flow of 50 million gallons of oil per day when the stability of America\\\\u2019s energy supply is threatened,\\\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\\\u201cThe Department of Justice, together with our parters at the Energy, Interior, and Transportation Departments will not allow California or environmental groups to undercut American energy.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis ruling comes at a time when state and local energy policies on the West Coast continue to destabilize regional supply and threaten broader national energy resilience. The Santa Ynez Pipeline transports more than one million barrels of domestically produced crude oil per month from offshore wells into California \\\\u2014 providing a reliable domestic supply to offset foreign imports and reinforcing the America\\\\u2019s energy independence.\\\\u0026nbsp;Its continued operation is also essential to maintaining stable fuel supplies for more than 32 U.S. military installations across the West Coast, supporting operational readiness and ensuring these facilities can meet critical national defense requirements.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe court confirmed that a Defense Production Act order \\\\u2014 issued by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright under delegated authority from the President \\\\u2014 lawfully preempts state actions aimed at blocking or delaying Sable Offshore Corporation (Sable)\\\\u2019s operations of the Santa Ynez Pipeline. The court held that the only agency with authority to oversee the safety of the pipeline is the Department of Transportation\\\\u2019s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and California\\\\u2019s efforts to shut down the pipeline amounted to an attempt to override federal authority and undercut essential national energy priorities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKey components of the court\\\\u2019s rulings include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e24583b6e355cb1cccca802171dc7d2a4\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDenial of California\\\\u2019s motion for a preliminary injunction\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E seeking to suspend Energy Secretary Wright\\\\u2019s Defense Production Act order requiring operation of the pipeline. The court held that California failed to demonstrate any likelihood of success on the merits of its challenge because the Order is lawful and constitutional.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eee6688e54344c2001d355aac3434f980\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERecognition of the Defense Production Act order\\\\u2019s preemptive force\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, declaring that federal law bars California\\\\u2019s Department of Parks and Recreation from pursuing legal actions \\\\u2014 such as trespass claims \\\\u2014 that would impede pipeline operations mandated by federal authority.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0ebd0051ddbf8c1e4c718279ff24dc19\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EClarification that state courts may not enforce injunctions that conflict with federal directives\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, as the court addressed efforts by environmental groups to sustain a state\\\\u2011court injunction.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e46d9bf6fcd2ff0e83e63f17f823545c5\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EModification of the existing federal consent decree\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E to consolidate oversight of pipeline safety and compliance under PHMSA, replacing California\\\\u2019s Office of the State Fire Marshal to prevent further state\\\\u2011level interference with federally directed operations.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe decision makes clear that attempts by California and environmental groups to impose new obstacles to critical energy infrastructure \\\\u2014 despite clear federal findings of urgent national security needs \\\\u2014 cannot override federal law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice remains committed to enforcing federal law, defending national energy security, and ensuring that vital infrastructure remains free of unlawful state\\\\u2011imposed barriers. This case was litigated by ENRD.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:52:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788465130\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2dd23226-fdaa-483b-bbc5-81233ed79643\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Associate Attorney General\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:24:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788459859\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1017\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn a significant victory for President Trump\\\\u2019s efforts to unleash American energy, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this week affirmed the federal government\\\\u2019s authority to protect national energy security under the Defense Production Act. The ruling ensures that domestically produced oil can reliably reach California refineries and safeguards the continued operation of critical pipeline infrastructure on the California coast.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Court Again Protects National Energy Security and Rejects Dangerous State Efforts to Obstruct Sable Offshore Corporation\\\\u2019s Operation of the Santa Ynez Pipeline\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d79e01a0-568a-4d04-be55-905f2b3af137\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Environment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/archives\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-court-again-protects-national-energy-security-and-rejects-dangerous-state-efforts-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c71b739-df21-4043-9472-3e9f6eb1fd53\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\\\u2013 A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:51:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461518\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:44:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461087\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVerndale Ray Seals was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/judge-deals-30-year-federal-sentence-texas-felon-who-trafficked-fentanyl-state-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"505bc82b-9374-4e8e-bc2e-c9620d8f9b47\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (\\\\u201cFCC Coleman\\\\u201d) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440644\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:02:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440553\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate Husband\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/polk-county-woman-admits-smuggling-methamphetamine-federal-prison-her-inmate-husband\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d061465-a95f-4df6-8df2-3adf99ef9e39\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 The final two defendants involved in an armed drug trafficking network affiliated with a criminal street gang were sentenced to federal prison because of Operation Mobile Order, an investigation led by the FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, which resulted in the seizure of dozens of firearms, including a machine gun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis heavily armed drug trafficking organization was a major threat in Macon, and our region is now safer because every member has been brought to justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u201cTargeting dangerous criminal organizations like those dismantled in Operation Mobile Order remains a top priority for our office and law enforcement partners at every level. These offenders have been held accountable for the harm they caused to our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOperation Mobile Order dismantled a violent drug trafficking organization that treated a Macon neighborhood like a retail storefront for cocaine, backed by an arsenal of firearms,\\\\u201d said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta\\\\u2019s Macon office. \\\\u201cThis investigation shows the FBI\\\\u2019s commitment to targeting criminal networks that fuel addiction, violence, and fear in our communities. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to make Central Georgia a safer place to live.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cOperation Mobile Order represents the best in local and federal law enforcement partnerships,\\\\u201d said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. \\\\u201cTogether, FBI agents and Bibb County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigators worked tirelessly to bring this cadre of criminals to justice. Our community is much better off with these peddlers of poison off our streets.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced today, on September 3: \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEddie Reese, 54, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on June 18, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlton Oliver, aka \\\\u201cAlo,\\\\u201d aka \\\\u201cLo,\\\\u201d 43, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Jan. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced on August 10:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETanya Card, 51, of Macon, was sentenced to serve six months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced on June 4:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoddreckious Williams, 33, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of distribution of cocaine on Jan. 21.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced on May 19:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERoosevelt Cole, aka \\\\u201cFroball,\\\\u201d 52, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 170 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarvin Huff, aka \\\\u201cBlack,\\\\u201d 50, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 125 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrayvon Simmons, aka \\\\u201cAbo,\\\\u201d 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced to prison on April 2:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonyo Daniels, aka \\\\u201cTony,\\\\u201d 31, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 250 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were sentenced to prison on March 2:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDevonta Jackson, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 155 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaderion Jacobs, aka \\\\u201cJohnny,\\\\u201d aka \\\\u201cJohnny Cain,\\\\u201d 30, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELadarrious King, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 2, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 5:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELeroy Mintz, aka \\\\u201cBooman,\\\\u201d 29, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Nov. 20, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements in court, in 2022 and 2023, the FBI conducted Operation Mobile Order, a Macon-centered investigation targeting an armed drug trafficking organization led by Reese. Many members of the organization are validated Blue Band Gang (BBG) members who affiliate with the Crips criminal organization. During the investigation, the FBI ran nine controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine and intercepted phone calls and text messages, detailing transactions involving kilograms of cocaine from an Atlanta supplier.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe main drug distribution site, also known as a trap house, was located on Richard Street in Macon. This busy location functioned similarly to a restaurant, with members of the organization assigned shifts to distribute drugs. Recorded calls captured Reese discussing drug overdoses in the community, claiming that if the drugs causing those overdoses had come from his Richard Street operation, \\\\u201ceveryone in Macon would be dead.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI executed 11 federal search warrants in Macon, Warner Robins, and Atlanta on Nov. 20, 2023, including at the Richard Street trap house, seizing cocaine, 26 firearms, a ballistic vest, and $93,247. One of the locations searched included Oliver\\\\u2019s home on Williamson Road in Macon.\\\\u0026nbsp; There, agents found a machine gun plus five firearms. In addition, agents found quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine at Oliver\\\\u2019s. The ballistic vest belonged to Daniels.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immig\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nlegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"704d175e-07cd-47bf-b003-8f899dbd5426\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFLORENCE, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr.,\\\\u0026nbsp;54, of\\\\u0026nbsp;Florence, has pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EMercer\\\\u2019s co-defendant and son, Benjamin Lee Mercer, Jr., 31, of Florence, previously pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EEvidence obtained in the investigation revealed that around 2:52 a.m. on May 12, 2024, two men\\\\u2014later identified as Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr.\\\\u2014burglarized the Palmetto State Armory, a federal firearms licensee in Florence. They stole 152 firearms. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer in Darlington associated with Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr. and found 15 firearms, all of which were stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. Shortly before executing the search warrant, law enforcement saw Mercer, Sr. get into a truck and leave the trailer. Law enforcement followed Mercer, Sr., but he fled and evaded law enforcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;During the pursuit, Mercer, Sr. was captured on video discarding a firearm. Law enforcement recovered\\\\u0026nbsp;the firearm and confirmed\\\\u0026nbsp;it was stolen from the Palmetto State Armory.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EOn June 17, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled\\\\u0026nbsp;purchase of 21 firearms from Mercer, Jr. at the Darlington trailer. During the buy, Mercer, Jr. pulled out a handgun, pistol whipped the informant, and threatened to kill the informant. Ultimately, the informant threw their car keys and the buy money on the ground, which Mercer, Jr. took and\\\\u0026nbsp;then left in the informant\\\\u2019s car. Law enforcement caught up to Mercer, Jr., and a high-speed chase ensued through Darlington and Florence counties. During the chase, Mercer, Jr. pointed a firearm out\\\\u0026nbsp;of the driver\\\\u2019s side window and repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Mercer, Jr. fled to an apartment in Florence, where he barricaded himself\\\\u0026nbsp;inside but ultimately surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment, where they found a loaded handgun along with the buy money taken from the informant.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EMercer, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp;Mercer, Sr. faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence both defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florence County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Darlington County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Lauren Hummel\\\\u0026nbsp;is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:37:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457037\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e21ed86f-8c15-410a-9875-2ffeda1475cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Carolina\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:35:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788456918\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFLORENCE, S.C.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr.,\\\\u0026nbsp;54, of\\\\u0026nbsp;Florence, has pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Florence County Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Firearms from Florence Armory \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sc\\\\/pr\\\\/florence-county-men-plead-guilty-stealing-firearms-florence-armory\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7ecc37c3-410c-4d02-8296-5ff781dbf917\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart\\\\u2019s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI\\\\u2019s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:27:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474452\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:23:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474218\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-230\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/big-timber-man-sentenced-12-years-trafficking-meth\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a720b4e-0d1a-4aea-82c2-fc4a1ce566e6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\\\u2014 A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin \\\\u201cRascal\\\\u201d Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in October 2025, an investigation began into the Sure\\\\u00f1o criminal street gang operating in Fresno County. Investigators identified Aranda as a high-ranking Reedley Sure\\\\u00f1o gang member and conducted three undercover purchases of methamphetamine from him between January and May 2026. On May 28, 2026, agents executed a search warrant at Aranda\\\\u2019s residence and recovered more methamphetamine along with digital scales, spoons, and baggies. In total, Aranda was found with 297.52 grams of methamphetamine throughout the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman\\\\u2011Hughes is prosecuting the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Aranda faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Central Valley HSTF\\\\u0026nbsp;is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of California.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:56:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472592\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:50:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788472208\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal grand jury today returned an indictment against Joaquin \\\\u201cRascal\\\\u201d Aranda, 40, a Mexican national illegally residing in Sanger, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Gang Member Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute in Fresno County\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-gang-member-charged-possessing-methamphetamine-intent-distribute-fresno\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"246f8e52-04d9-4826-8ea1-5d03001012fb\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen\\\\u2019s Social Security number.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictor Suazo Reynoso, 69, was sentenced by Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Reynoso was also ordered to pay $18,434 in restitution to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and $54,931 to MassHealth. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-pleads-guilty-snap-and-social-security-fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn May 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, the defendant pleaded guilty to illegal acquisition of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Reynoso was charged and arrested in March 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EReynoso used the name, birthdate and Social Security number of a United States citizen to apply for and receive a Massachusetts driver\\\\u2019s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits and $54,000 in MassHealth benefits. SNAP is a federal program administered by the states that provides funds for low-income individuals and families to purchase food. MassHealth is a federal and state program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorney-leah-b-foley-announces-fraud-coordinators-and-benefit-voter-fraud-team\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn March 26, 2026\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit \\\\u0026amp; Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-issues-memorandum-creation-national-fraud-enforcement\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENational Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T17:08:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788469729\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:15:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788462943\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston was sentenced yesterday for stealing SNAP benefits and unlawfully using a U.S. citizen\\\\u2019s Social Security number.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for SNAP and Social Security Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-prison-snap-and-social-security-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3c608786-a64c-484e-a7de-4ed855a6c96d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREENSBORO \\\\u2013 A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior\\\\/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was driving, fled, resulting in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office had to forcibly bring the vehicle to a stop. The clerk was found with her hands and ankles bound by shoelaces in the backseat. A gun that TOOMER tossed out the window during his flight was also recovered. The gun was loaded and had one round in the chamber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOOMER, who is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, has a criminal record that dates back to 2001, and includes several felony convictions, including Felony Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill, Felony Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Felony Strong Arm Robbery, Felony Burglary, Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Fraud against a Financial Institution, and Felony Possession of Contraband.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office (TN), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Ford Motor Company-Global Security and Vehicle Telematics, the Unicoi Police Department (TN), Erwin Police Department (TN), and Green County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office (TN). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T08:26:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788524813\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1a2a067f-1508-41d5-9fb8-558edd603570\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T08:23:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788524612\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Forsyth County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years After Kidnapping Store Clerk in the Course of a Robbery\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/forsyth-county-man-sentenced-more-24-years-after-kidnapping-store-clerk-course-robbery\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4984a064-bba3-4903-8329-be0bca72382d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September\\\\u0026nbsp;1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between August 2025, and November 2025, Stone Thomas Graham, 26, possessed at least three firearms. Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a conviction stemming from an incident in November 2019, during which he discharged at firearm at other people, including police officers. Graham was granted parole for the state offense in May 2024 and discharged from that parole in August 2025, days before he possessed firearms. One of the firearms Graham possessed in 2025 was the same pump-action shotgun he possessed in November 2019.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter completing his term of imprisonment, Graham will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3e1b44f828345724d17f8b5f02aaeb2e\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebc42fb6d5986b2b70af99efa4ac24315\\\\u0022\\\\u003Estrong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb27442ef6a87a18c68bcc80b1141a45b\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eaccountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov\\\\/PSN.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:24:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788452678\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:22:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788452578\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September\\\\u0026nbsp;1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Burlington Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdia\\\\/pr\\\\/burlington-man-sentenced-over-6-years-federal-prison-firearm-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de859a5e-74e3-47d3-9db2-db7529c893f0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for violating immigration laws.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United Sta\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0070 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01K3A1fDvsN257p8mBLhWDn4

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01K3A1fDvsN257p8mBLhWDn4", "elapsed": 4.439110416, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":4},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.5043408870697021},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ELOS ANGELES\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 The United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring this investigation, which will focus on the conditions of the facility itself and not the actions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department deputies who staff it, the Justice Department will determine whether the County has violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Personals Act (CRIPA), a federal statute intended to protect the rights of people incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, among other state and locally run institutions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhether a person is held in a county jail, awaiting trial, or after conviction, the environmental conditions in that jail need to meet constitutional standards,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. \\\\u201cThe Civil Rights Division is pleased to partner with the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office in its investigation of Los Angeles County\\\\u2019s Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail to determine whether the County meets those constitutional conditions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cLos Angeles County has a constitutional duty to provide safe, humane, and habitable conditions at Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. \\\\u201cWe have reached no conclusions, but these concerns warrant a thorough investigation. If the evidence reveals systemic violations, we will act.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has not reached any conclusion regarding allegations in this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis new investigation is separate from a 2015 settlement in \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. County of Los Angeles\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, (C.D. Cal., 15cv5903), which was related to mental health care provided at Los Angeles County jails.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndividuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/civilrights.justice.gov\\\\/report\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ecivilrights.justice.gov\\\\/report\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Julie A. Hamill of the Civil Division\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Section is handling this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T12:55:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789059303\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:23:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981835\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-155\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men\\\\u2019s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Notifies Los Angeles County of Investigation into Whether Conditions at Downtown L.A. Jail Violate Constitution\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-cdca\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-notifies-los-angeles-county-investigation-whether-conditions\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f83f1624-dfb5-46da-a5ca-9dfda6117c16\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday found a St. Louis County felon caught with two guns guilty of a firearm charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence and testimony at the trial, which started Tuesday, showed that a Hazelwood police officer stopped Paris D. McPeters on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stay in his lane. After learning that McPeters had an active warrant, the officer arrested him. \\\\u0026nbsp;Before the vehicle was towed, the officer asked McPeters whether there were guns or drugs in the vehicle and McPeters responded, \\\\u201cyeah.\\\\u201d A search revealed a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine, five additional loaded large capacity magazines, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with a loaded 50 round drum magazine and extra ammunition, evidence and testimony showed. McPeters has numerous prior convictions. As a felon, he is barred from possessing firearms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460821\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/ex_3screenshot_2026-09-09_142849.png?itok=dMPaNNE2\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00221238\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022710\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Exhibit 3\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMcPeters, 44, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 9. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Christian Goeke and Joseph Green are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:32:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989579\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:26:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788989210\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460821\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51c611b3-558c-44ff-96f2-9e044383bcd4\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"A photo of guns and ammunition seized after an arrest.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Exhibit 3\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EParis D. McPeters was caught with a rifle, a pistol and drum magazines.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jurors Convict St. Louis County Felon Caught with Guns, Drum Magazines\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/jurors-convict-st-louis-county-felon-caught-guns-drum-magazines\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c62e8cb2-66ca-4c9b-a499-da822758e8d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bryan Gutierrez, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween December 2024 and April 2025, Gutierrez conspired with co-defendant Antonio Rivera-Perez and others to sell fentanyl. In February, March, and April of 2025, investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Gutierrez. On April 22, 2025, a search warrant was executed at the Langfield Drive residence of co-defendant Rivera-Perez, during which law enforcement seized approximately 1,072 grams of powder cocaine, 198 grams of crack cocaine, and 190 grams of fentanyl, a firearm, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and approximately $3,500 in cash.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAntonio Rivera-Perez was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 60 months in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett Fitzsimmons and Katerina Powers. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E#\\\\u0026nbsp;#\\\\u0026nbsp;#\\\\u0026nbsp;#\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:59:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994788\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:57:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994635\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Bryan Gutierrez, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Buffalo man going to prison for his role in narcotics conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/buffalo-man-going-prison-his-role-narcotics-conspiracy-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1ed9c848-5faf-4a68-9048-f4849279ebd7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESOUTH BEND \\\\u2013 Rodoundy Smith, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2027.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew A. Krumwied, Joseph M. Barrier, and Lydia T. Lucius.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:21:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788988890\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"27450eca-820f-409c-ae9c-7d89d90bef92\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:18:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788988701\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"South Bend Man Found Guilty by Jury for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndin\\\\/pr\\\\/south-bend-man-found-guilty-jury-unlawful-possession-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"71213de1-86e0-4ff6-8d4a-ef6bcf79885f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Sean Michael Hunt, 51, of San Francisco, was sentenced Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, by U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on May 17, 2010, Hunt pleaded guilty to receiving CSAM in Fresno. After serving his prison sentence, he relocated to San Francisco and began serving a lifetime term of supervised release. In March 2024, during a search of Hunt\\\\u2019s residence, Hunt\\\\u2019s probation officer found two laptops, three iPhones and one iPad. On the devices were more than 10,000 still images and 75 videos of CSAM. Hunt was charged with violating the conditions of his release and was additionally charged with possession of CSAM.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Jan. 26, 2026, Hunt pleaded guilty to the violation of supervised release and to possession of CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\\\/psc.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:03:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788987823\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T17:01:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788987681\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESean Michael Hunt, 51, of San Francisco, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"San Francisco man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for child exploitation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/san-francisco-man-sentenced-more-12-years-prison-child-exploitation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cf4cc275-7852-4bb2-a942-0a2bde22559d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 James Soriano, a former public official at the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to his plea agreement, Soriano admitted he accepted bribes from defense contractors in the form of lavish meals, employment opportunities for family members and friends, and tickets to premier sporting events. In exchange, he used his position to help the contractors secure and maintain hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESoriano also admitted to filing false tax returns in connection with the bribes he received.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson ordered Soriano to forfeit $209,527.51 and pay $18,722.40 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Soriano\\\\u2019s plea agreement, the defense contractors \\\\u2013 acting through their presidents, officers, and employees \\\\u2013 gave various things of value to Soriano, including dinners at Ruth\\\\u2019s Chris, Island Prime, and Fogo de Ch\\\\u00e3o; tickets to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, 2018 World Series, and 2019 Superbowl; and jobs for Soriano\\\\u2019s family and friends, including Soriano\\\\u2019s wife and Soriano\\\\u2019s family friend, Liberty Gutierrez, who gave Soriano $2,000 a month in cash from her salary at one of the companies working under a defense contract.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn return, Soriano took official action to aid his benefactors, such as allowing defense contractors to draft government documents in competitive and non-competitive procurements, submitting those documents as part of the procurement process, and advocating for their selection as defense contractors. Soriano also willfully failed to disclose the cash payments he received from Gutierrez on his federal tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Soriano\\\\u2019s plea agreement, from approximately March 2016 through at least October 2019, Soriano and a coworker, Dawnell Parker, received bribes from Philip Flores, the president and CEO of Intellipeak Solutions, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp; Soriano also admitted that from approximately May 2015 through at least October 2019, he separately received bribes from another defense contractor, with offices in San Diego and Stafford, Virginia, who gave him things of value, such as expensive dinners, a job for his wife, and rounds of golf at a private country club.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFurther, according to Soriano\\\\u2019s plea agreement, from approximately June 2014 through at least October 2019, Soriano received bribes from Russell Thurston, the Vice President of Cambridge International Systems, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp; In return for these bribes, Soriano used various methods to steer contracts to these defense contractors and kept his contracting activities hidden from the Naval Information Warfare Center.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCorruption in federal procurement undermines fair competition and cheats law-abiding businesses,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. \\\\u201cThis is a strong sentence that proves corrupt officials will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe sentencing of Mr. Soriano should serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to enrich themselves through fraudulent contracting practices,\\\\u201d said John E. Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of War Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. \\\\u201cThis type of criminal behavior undermines the Department or War\\\\u2019s procurement system and erodes public trust. DCIS will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute public corruption affecting America\\\\u2019s Warfighters.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMr. Soriano abused his position of trust to benefit favored contractors and undermine the integrity of the procurement process,\\\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Merkal of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. \\\\u201cThis sentencing reinforces our unwavering commitment to holding public officials accountable when they betray the public trust for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case shows how greed and corruption drive people to exploit public systems for personal gain,\\\\u201d said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge with IRS Criminal Investigation\\\\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cIRS\\\\u2011CI\\\\u2019s financial expertise allows us to cut through even the most complex schemes, follow the money, and hold those who betray the public trust accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EDEFENDANT\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Case Numbers 23-cr-2282-TWR-1 and 24-cr-341-TWR-1\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames Soriano\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 65\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Las Vegas, NV\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003ESUMMARY OF CHARGES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EConspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaximum penalties (per count): Five years in prison; $250,000 fine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFalse Statements in Tax Returns \\\\u2013 Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7206(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMaximum penalties: Three years in prison; $100,000 fine\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EINVESTIGATING AGENCIES\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDefense Criminal Investigative Service\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENaval Criminal Investigative Service\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESmall Business Administration \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInternal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDepartment of Health and Human Services \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EIf you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u0027Fraud Division\\\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:23:06-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985386\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdad26ae-a50e-41f0-90c6-0e0f10c69b9c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:20:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985208\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"CAS26-0909-Soriano\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013 James Soriano, a former public official at the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 72 months in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. According to his plea agreement, Soriano admitted he accepted bribes from defense contractors in the form of lavish meals, employment opportunities for family members and friends, and tickets to premier sporting events. In exchange, he used his position to help the contractors secure and maintain hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Navy Civilian Employee Sentenced to 72 Months for Bribery and Tax Fraud Schemes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"351fcc4e-1f5b-4490-b848-db30da15059a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Public Corruption\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdca\\\\/pr\\\\/former-navy-civilian-employee-sentenced-72-months-bribery-and-tax-fraud-schemes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdaa517a-72ee-49e0-80b1-a4be03539011\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mekfira Hussein and Abduljabar Hussein have been sentenced to a total of 97 months in prison for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Husseins submitted fraudulent claims for meals and ultimately obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel on September 8, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMekfira Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 42, of Shakopee, Minnesota, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-woman-pleads-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 31, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EAbduljabar Hussein\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 45,\\\\u0026nbsp;of Shakopee, Minnesota,\\\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/four-more-defendants-plead-guilty-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFebruary 5, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children. Their sentences today reflect my office\\\\u2019s commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer prosecuted these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Press releases on the defendants\\\\u2019 indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/shakopee-couple-indicted-their-roles-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOctober 18, 2022\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:47:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788994037\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T18:46:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788993976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Couple in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months\\\\u2019 Imprisonment\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6827a162-b783-4ffa-a6c2-596fc9f07e39\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"COVID-Related Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/couple-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme-sentenced-97-months-imprisonment\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"95e3ce0e-765a-4e68-9b0d-5857276e015d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMarquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and\\\\u0026nbsp;a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.\\\\u0026nbsp; Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was a fitting sentence for this predator,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cI am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T10:06:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962761\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:59:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788962376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/chancellor-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-production-child-pornography\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"341e69e4-c49b-4ed9-90a0-7e51ce400c61\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY \\\\u2013 U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEriberto Gonzalez-Ginez, 23, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gonzalez-Ginez will also be deported back to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGonzalez-Ginez was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in March 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 2, 2026, federal law enforcement officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, conducted a targeted enforcement operation regarding illegal immigration at a Rapid City residence.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gonzalez-Ginez is an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez was in the driver\\\\u2019s seat of a pickup truck with a trailer hitched to its rear at the residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;When federal agents activated their emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles, Gonzalez-Ginez quickly put the truck in reverse, ramming into a federal agent\\\\u2019s duty vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez kept his truck in reverse, pushing the federal agent\\\\u2019s vehicle back approximately ten feet.\\\\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez-Ginez then fled on foot, escaping authorities.\\\\u0026nbsp; Federal agents tracked his position again at the end of the month, where he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was outrageous and recklessly dangerous conduct by this lawless individual,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removable Operations.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:26:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788960373\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T09:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788959888\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-sentenced-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2be8d2b9-4922-4aa6-8afa-1405fb8fefad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California\\\\u2019s history.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPaul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPaul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California\\\\u2019s most vulnerable residents,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,\\\\u201d said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). \\\\u201cHHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took advantage of California\\\\u2019s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s prison sentence underscore\\\\u2019s our department\\\\u2019s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prescription drug program to a new payment system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThrough a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal\\\\u2019s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California (\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Paul Richard Randall\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E, No. CR 20-00031-GW).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California\\\\u2019s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMore information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/fraud\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:25:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981901\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ab636464-816a-4a67-967e-00eb15e40ff3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Central\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:12:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981146\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1035\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/california-man-sentenced-30-years-orchestrating-270m-medication-reimbursement-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8f0bf01d-a76e-49d6-884a-ce46e8e96164\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (\\\\u201cHSTF\\\\u201d) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 31 through September 4, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations\\\\u2014including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EConvictions through Guilty Pleas:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0f126c6345264531558c75a5eb607ffb\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, \\\\u00c1lvaro Ortiz-Callejas pleaded guilty to narcotics importation conspiracy and narcotics importation aiding and abetting in Criminal Case 23-085 (PAD).\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to import and aiding and abetting the importation of five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.\\\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on October 18, 2024. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for December 7, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e97f5b3508be7996e9a8798e2aeae08f1\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Edgar Santiago-V\\\\u00e1zquez pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-215 (SCC) and to Counts One and Seven of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-392 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on September 25, 2026. The court set defendant\\\\u0027s sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6e89ddfb9fb81a7aae5c19ed731ea3eb\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Enrique Falc\\\\u00f3n-Lopez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM).\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to commit wire, bank and mail fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on June 17, 2025. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for January 12, 2027. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e50def0c6ce17b95aa131c615979d374e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Lucas Jos\\\\u00e9 P\\\\u00e9rez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM).\\\\u0026nbsp; According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to manufacture or distribution of cocaine for purpose of unlawful importation.\\\\u0026nbsp;Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025, in the Dominican Republic and extradited to Puerto Rico on August 21, 2025. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\\\u00eda Jim\\\\u00e9nez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e61095d6052336be55b015fea74281c93\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Yariel Enrique Morales-Fuentes pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC).\\\\u0026nbsp;According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.\\\\u0026nbsp; Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant\\\\u2019s sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSAs Laura D\\\\u00edaz-Gonz\\\\u00e1lez and Andr\\\\u00e9s Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentencings:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e891b166ce1165bbf9770617f80c6d3c4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, Josu\\\\u00e9 Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. \\\\u201cTonto\\\\/Doble T\\\\u201d was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mar\\\\u00eda Angongiorgi-Jord\\\\u00e1n to nine (9) years of imprisonment to be followed by eight (8) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura D\\\\u00edaz-Gonz\\\\u00e1lez and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2ff1c42c410bca79652c0d39e1dd140e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, Defendant Jes\\\\u00fas M. Cruz Mart\\\\u00ednez, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal Arias-Marxuach to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a conspiracy to commit bank, wire, and mail fraud. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8b696592c9e7ed8ef64c9a1be24608d8\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, \\\\u00c1ngel Ocasio-Cancel was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to 60 months of imprisonment and eight (8) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2026, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. AUSA Andr\\\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3691feed076de1bf63f2b8d8e770cd9a\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Jeuris Rodr\\\\u00edguez-Payano was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal Arias Maxuach to a term of imprisonment of 118 months and five (5) years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture or distribute 323 kilograms cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2022, in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\\\u00eda Jim\\\\u00e9nez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e7521fca16c5cb91facdd36df35563070\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 3, 2026, Ra\\\\u00fal Gonz\\\\u00e1lez-Santiago was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to 84 months of imprisonment\\\\u201424 months as to Count One and 60 months as to Count Seven, to be served consecutively\\\\u2014and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026. AUSA Andr\\\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e2f4c321d193caee1c0f243b7c0fce328\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Robert Mart\\\\u00ednez-Limas was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado Hern\\\\u00e1ndez to a term of six (6) months in home incarceration and four (4) years and six (6) months in probation for possessing with intent to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on August 22, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-280 (PAD), and pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. AUSA Camille Garc\\\\u00eda Jim\\\\u00e9nez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e7316cffdf583aa76bd6d9e0920d42f8c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Rodney Alexis Maldonado-M\\\\u00e1rquez was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Ra\\\\u00fal M. Arias-Marxuach to time served and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 18, 2026. AUSA Andr\\\\u00e9s L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e9e7559b742aa8dcd7c0e18a4e715bdea\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn September 4, 2026, Barbara Valent\\\\u00edn-Rivera was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to time served and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and to launder the drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 29, 2021, in Criminal Case 21-359, and pleaded guilty on May 18, 2026. AUSA Ricardo Imbert Fern\\\\u00e1ndez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico\\\\/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard \\\\u2013 Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:53:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983609\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"U.S. Marshals Service\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:49:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788983380\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-097\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (\\\\u201cHSTF\\\\u201d) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 31 through September 4, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations\\\\u2014including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 31 through September 4, 2026)\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/convictions-through-guilty-pleas-and-sentencings-homeland-security-task-force-hstf-9\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"229c6fca-be7e-4df7-bd56-22434d5fb89c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLESTON, W.Va. \\\\u2013 Jason Anthony Barrett, 47, of South Charleston, was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, also known as \\\\u201ccrack.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barrett\\\\u2019s South Charleston residence and seized 432.5 grams of methamphetamine, 25.2 grams of cocaine, 11.4 grams of crack, and 13.68 grams of fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Barrett admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them to others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarrett further admitted that he sold 55.73 grams of methamphetamine on May 8, 2025, and 2.82 grams of fentanyl and 3.34 grams of crack on May 19, 2025, that both transactions occurred at his residence, and that he sold the controlled substances to a confidential informant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarrett has a criminal history that includes four prior convictions for domestic battery and prior convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-cocaine and attempted escape.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarrett is among more than a dozen individuals indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. Nine defendants pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine between June 2024 and May 2025. Barrett is among five defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the same federal investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/wvs\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;for the Southern District of West Virginia.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.login.uscourts.gov\\\\/csologin\\\\/login.jsf?pscCourtId=WVSDC\\\\u0026amp;appurl=https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.wvsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/showpage.pl?16\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-189.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:08:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788984506\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6decd6a7-23cb-4fef-b50c-791f6604191f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:15:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977720\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdwv\\\\/pr\\\\/kanawha-county-man-sentenced-prison-federal-drug-crime-9\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"08ee0bff-c2c3-451b-a8ec-337ecb6698c9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) \\\\u2013 Washington Division,\\\\u0026nbsp;and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on February 4, 2025, a BPD detective, monitoring a CitiWatch Camera, observed Fallin displaying characteristics of an armed person. The detective saw Fallin adjusting the front waistband of his pants while in a convenience store.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThen Fallin exited the store and approached the driver\\\\u2019s side of a white vehicle with an unknown male who was speaking to a female driver. During the conversation, the officer noticed Fallin repeatedly checking and adjusting an object in the front waistband of his pants. Then the detective saw Fallin walk to the front of the car and pull out a black handgun and hold it against his side.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFallin then put the firearm back in his waistband and adjusted his pants. After the white vehicle left, Fallin went to his vehicle and entered the driver\\\\u2019s seat. Shortly after, BPD officers arrived on the scene to apprehend Fallin.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter law enforcement arrested Fallin, officers asked him if he owned a permit for the firearm. But Fallin denied having the firearm. Then law enforcement searched the vehicle and uncovered a loaded firearm that contained 12 rounds of ammunition underneath the driver\\\\u2019s seat.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAdditionally, law enforcement discovered a United States Postal Service (USPS) Arrow Key that fell from the driver\\\\u2019s side visor onto the driver\\\\u2019s seat. An Arrow Key is a government-issued master key that enables postal carriers to open cluster box units, blue collection boxes, and other USPS-secured mail infrastructure.\\\\u0026nbsp; Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that the recovered Arrow Key was stolen from a postal carrier on February 3.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the\\\\u0026nbsp;USPIS and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the\\\\u0026nbsp;Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for its valuable assistance. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney and Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O\\\\u2019Donohue III,\\\\u0026nbsp;who prosecuted the federal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ejustice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:04:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788977097\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26e2ebc-fd03-4944-b204-b86a96ca8543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maryland\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T14:03:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788976989\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBaltimore, Maryland\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for firearm and postal-service theft crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shykeem Fallin, 24, today, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a stolen key adopted by the United States Postal Service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Baltimore Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Stolen Postal Service Key\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-md\\\\/pr\\\\/baltimore-man-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearm-and-stolen-postal-service-key\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"82f89b0c-382e-4a12-b21d-b58b7b9c17ad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough\\\\u2019s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EScarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:10:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788981008\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:08:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788980919\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1034\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/maryland-woman-sentenced-prison-11m-tax-refund-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"892bb09b-bee4-487e-bac3-799806955291\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECody Dittman, 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in May 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn May 2, 2025, Dittman refused to pull over after officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety attempted a traffic stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dittman led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, ultimately leaving Pine Ridge and entering Fall River County.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the pursuit, Dittman swerved his vehicle directly towards law enforcement officers deploying spike strips as they attempted to end the pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota DCI, the Fall River County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the United States Marshal Service.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDittman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:49:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958163\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:46:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Norfolk, Nebraska, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nebraska Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/nebraska-man-sentenced-over-5-years-federal-prison-assaulting-federal-officer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"44c12db1-7d1b-469e-9be1-a7da2610babd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis serial felon\\\\u2019s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he\\\\u2019ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u0026nbsp; As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEscambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: \\\\u201cThis case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.\\\\u0026nbsp; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:31:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788957073\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:27:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788956851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution \\\\u0026amp; Weapons Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/pensacola-man-sentenced-drug-distribution-weapons-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a8c1a3c3-413f-419f-a866-80be86586756\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGaylen Holy Rock, 40, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp; He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in 2023, Holy Rock worked with others to distribute methamphetamine within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp; He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area and was responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWorking together, law enforcement agencies across South Dakota are doing everything we can to eliminate the scourge of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Parsons.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis defendant chose to victimize the communities of the Pine Ridge Reservation.\\\\u0026nbsp;He will now spend the next decade in federal prison, which should provide plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of that decision.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp; Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department\\\\u2019s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHoly Rock was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:56:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958577\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56f88d82-8607-40d7-8066-149221fe4178\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - South Dakota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T08:53:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788958422\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.\\\\u0026nbsp; The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sd\\\\/pr\\\\/rapid-city-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4aa4210d-f5b2-43e8-94a3-26e93909ba05\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESACRAMENTO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Zuryess Roberts, 26, of Vallejo, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to seven years in prison for illegal gun trafficking and possessing a machine gun conversion device, U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal jury found Roberts guilty in May 2025 after trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Roberts was the leader of a loosely affiliated crew that was illegally selling dangerous, high-powered weapons in Vallejo using a Super 8 motel on Solano Avenue in Vallejo as the hub of their criminal activity. During the investigation, on multiple separate occasions, Roberts sold and oversaw the sale of dangerous weapons, including a machine gun conversion device and facilitated the sale of multiple untraceable ghost guns, on the streets of Vallejo to a person he believed to be a violent criminal. In total, Roberts was responsible for selling 13 firearms, and he received approximately $7,850, from selling firearms during the course of the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFour co-defendants were convicted of firearms-related crimes and sentenced to federal prison. They include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETaezon Laurece Sanderson, 23, sentenced to 36 months;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EDivaya Talley, 18, sentenced to 36 months in prison;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003ENapoleon Washington, 45, sentenced to 15 months in prison;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAnderson Thurston, 66, sentenced to 12 months in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vallejo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:26:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788974774\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:21:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788974514\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZuryess Roberts, 26, of Vallejo, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for illegal gun trafficking and possessing a machine gun conversion device\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Vallejo gun trafficker sentenced to 7 years in prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/vallejo-gun-trafficker-sentenced-7-years-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a91d3596-5e21-4b92-98b0-609442d4cbe7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A former inmate at Central State Prison in Macon who was serving a sentence for child molestation is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material on an altered J-pay tablet while behind bars.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETimothy Jock Knight, 45, formerly of Central State Prison, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell on September 3. Knight faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is deeply troubling that, even while serving time for child molestation, this individual continued to seek out and view child sexual abuse material and research ways to harm children,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u201cThanks to the coordinated efforts of state and federal authorities, the defendant was identified and will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022There are few crimes more egregious than those perpetrated against children, and in this case the defendant proved he remains a danger to the community, even from a prison cell,\\\\u0022 said Rob Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. \\\\u0022We will take every opportunity to leverage our digital forensic technology to thwart the activity of distributors and consumers of child sexual abuse materials, no matter their location.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChild sexual abuse material is a horrific form of exploitation that continues to victimize children long after the abuse itself occurs. Those responsible must be held accountable,\\\\u201d said GBI Director Chris Hosey. \\\\u201cThe GBI will never back down in the fight against this crime, and remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and hold criminals accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAny type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our federal and state partners for their assistance in bringing this case to a close,\\\\u201d said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received a Cybertip generated by Instagram in reference to the distribution of child sexual abuse material in 2021. Instagram reported that a subject account named \\\\u201ctimknight444,\\\\u201d uploaded two images depicting CSAM. The tip included Knight\\\\u2019s profile picture and his driver\\\\u2019s license. GBI found Knight was serving a state sentence for attempted child molestation out of the Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia, and was housed at Central State Prison, scheduled for release in January 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe GBI obtained search warrant resu\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nce sends a clear message that those who traffic deadly narcotics in Minnesota will be met with decisive action. My office remains fully committed to protecting the public by dismantling the criminal networks that put our communities at risk,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday, the ringleader of an organization responsible for flooding our streets with methamphetamine was brought to justice,\\\\u201d said DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. \\\\u201cNo one is above the law and today\\\\u2019s sentencing is yet another reminder that DEA will work tirelessly to take these criminals and their poisons out of our neighborhoods.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) work collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations. This case is one example of positive outcomes achieved when working together. Minnesota and beyond are safer with these dangerous drugs off the streets and the suspects held accountable,\\\\u201d said Tim Parkin, Captain of the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office and Commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Minnesota State Patrol, Otter Tail County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Chisago County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, Hastings Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Cannon River Drug Task Force, and the New Prague Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the indictment (\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/five-members-surenos-affiliated-transnational-criminal-organization-charged-narcotics\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EApril 8, 2025\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E) linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:14:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995647\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T19:12:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788995556\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 20 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Supervisory Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Sure\\\\u00f1os and Sinaloa Cartel\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-20-years-imprisonment-supervisory-role-methamphetamine-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d05b30cf-e8a6-4190-997c-4658cb4e8895\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJiemaliahl Cleveland, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 23, 2025, Cleveland possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Colville scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cleveland.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:10:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788973842\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:09:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788973773\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/sharon-resident-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking-and-firearm-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ba3a7e38-4d78-4086-b524-6191825ad1d0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBROOKLYN, NY \\\\u2013 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.\\\\u0026nbsp; In August 2025, Khan \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/leader-68m-adult-day-care-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty\\\\u0022\\\\u003Epleaded guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.\\\\u0026nbsp;As part of her sentence,\\\\u0026nbsp;Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460796\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/money1.png?itok=lrK_iNkp\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022675\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022558\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022image1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); Miranda\\\\u0026nbsp;L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cOur Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters and as such, we will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care owners and operators in our district.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cKhan acted with staggering greed, leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars intended for people in need.\\\\u0026nbsp; She and her co-conspirators set up social adult daycares but, instead of providing care and services to our most vulnerable neighbors, they enriched themselves with cash, gold, and property,\\\\u201d said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a message: we will be relentless in our pursuit of justice against fraudsters.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSI is working side by side with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle complex fraud networks like this one.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cSocial adult day care and home health services are designed to support seniors, not line the pockets of fraudsters,\\\\u201d said HHS-OIG Acting Deputy Inspector\\\\u0026nbsp; General Bennett. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends an important message that anyone who illicitly exploits the Medicaid program will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cZakia Khan stole $64 million from Medicaid through bribes and kickbacks\\\\u2014money meant to support the most vulnerable,\\\\u201d said\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003ENYPD Commissioner Tisch.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis was not only deeply illegal but also immoral, and the NYPD will continue to investigate anyone who exploits government programs for personal gain.\\\\u0026nbsp; I thank our NYPD investigators and all our partners in law enforcement for their work in stopping this criminal and bringing this case to a close.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Khan owned two social adult daycare centers\\\\u2014Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social) in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn.\\\\u0026nbsp; She also owned a home health care fiscal intermediary called Responsible Care Staffing Inc. and an entity she used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds called Tanwee Services Inc.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom approximately October 2017 through July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, a web of marketers referred Medicaid recipients to Khan\\\\u2019s social adult daycare centers.\\\\u0026nbsp; As depicted in the pictures below, Khan and the marketers paid kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients to induce them to sign up for services that Khan then billed to Medicaid.\\\\u0026nbsp; These services were never actually provided as represented to Medicaid.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween 2017 and 2024, Happy Family and Family Social fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $64 million.\\\\u0026nbsp; Medicaid paid approximately $56 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.\\\\u0026nbsp; Khan and her co-conspirators used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the marketers and the Medicaid recipients.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460806\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/khan1.jpeg?itok=1wLTBvGl\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022506\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022373\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Khan1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EZakia Khan on an undercover recording paying illegal kickbacks inside her office at Happy Family.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460801\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/khan2.jpeg?itok=OAPSkI_e\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022581\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022548\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022khan2.jpeg\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460811\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/khan3.jpeg?itok=tfvY-5Z4\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022997\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022861\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Khan3\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__wrp position-absolute\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__icon\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cimg src=\\\\u0022\\\\/themes\\\\/custom\\\\/usdoj_uswds\\\\/images\\\\/doj-image-gold.svg\\\\u0022 alt\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022image-credit__credit\\\\u0022\\\\u003EEDNY\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EMedicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan\\\\u2019s social adult daycare centers.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHHS-OIG, HSI New York, and NYPD investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDeputy Chief Patrick J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Kedeshian for the Eastern District of New York, who is handling forfeiture matters.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant:\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZAKIA KHAN\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge:\\\\u0026nbsp; 55\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EBrooklyn, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-409 (NCM)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:47:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789062441\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:03:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788984229\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460796\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a26172a1-6c81-4bc9-b92f-3fe421d1303d\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"image1\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460801\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d60e4302-6dd2-477a-805e-f5f8c5f03ee6\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"khan2.jpeg\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460806\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24f5b473-c5cb-4daf-83d6-72688282bce3\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Khan1\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460811\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6dc0f40f-893b-4605-ba15-95ce4f0333a1\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Khan3\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBROOKLYN, NY \\\\u2013 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Zakia Khan was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.\\\\u0026nbsp; In August 2025, Khan \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/leader-68m-adult-day-care-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty\\\\u0022\\\\u003Epleaded guilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.\\\\u0026nbsp;As part of her sentence,\\\\u0026nbsp;Khan was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in $68 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/brooklyn-adult-daycare-owner-sentenced-76-months-prison-leadership-role-68-million\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"361db91a-270d-485c-9460-1a15e169bd69\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Columbia, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESemaj Reshod Clark, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Clark had previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting that he possessed a Taurus, model G3, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in Boone County on Aug. 10, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to government filings, Clark was found in possession of the firearm after an individual called law enforcement, reporting that Clark was at the individual\\\\u2019s home and was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, Clark fled on foot before being located and arrested with a loaded firearm in his pocket. Clark has prior felony convictions and was not permitted to possess a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:28:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985738\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T16:27:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788985665\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESemaj Reshod Clark, 25, of Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Columbia Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Firearm Offense\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/columbia-man-sentenced-10-years-firearm-offense\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f9ed39e0-4e8b-4009-8eba-ef111f2d9624\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different \\\\u201cpenny stocks\\\\u201d in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO\\\\u2019s own shares in those companies. CSURGO pled guilty on May 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed the sentence on September 4, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis sentencing reflects a clear and unambiguous message: those who manipulate our markets and defraud investors will not escape justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. \\\\u201cJulius Csurgo manipulated U.S. financial markets, exploited shell companies, and engaged in deceitful promotions to enrich himself at the expense of unsuspecting investors. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure our markets remain fair, transparent, and trustworthy.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Information, public filings, and statements made in court proceedings:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECSURGO, a Canadian-Hungarian citizen, orchestrated multiple \\\\u201cpump-and-dump\\\\u201d schemes along with his -co-conspirators. In his guilty plea, CSURGO admitted to securities fraud involving nineteen issuers. His sophisticated scheme involved gaining controlling interest of unrestricted stock, then concealing ownership by distributing shares among nominee entities through a Swiss corporation called Blacklight, S.A. While maintaining behind-the-scenes control over the shares and significant influence over company management, CSURGO and his co-conspirators funded promotional campaigns without disclosing their controlling interest or intent to sell. They took deliberate steps to hide that nominee entities were funding these promotions. During or shortly after generating market interest, CSURGO sold large percentages of holdings and collected the proceeds through the elaborate network of nominee entities he controlled, which he also used to distribute proceeds to his co-conspirators.\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u200b\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition to his prison term, CSURGO, 71, of Toronto, Canada, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit approximately $9,610,409.95.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He further thanked the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs of the Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, as well as authorities in Canada. Mr. McDonald also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against CSURGO.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Richman, Samuel Rothschild, and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T15:07:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788980822\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-09T13:46:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788975976\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788955200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-254\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different \\\\u201cpenny stocks\\\\u201d in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO\\\\u2019s own shares in those companies.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"International Stock Manipulator Sentenced To 27 Months\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/international-stock-manipulator-sentenced-27-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3327a14-8b18-4b28-8a46-cc22dfaada77\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0073 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01RsqLiCSdzhfz8TnYjPshzb

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01RsqLiCSdzhfz8TnYjPshzb", "elapsed": 4.324800216, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":5},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.4913530349731445},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBURLINGTON \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow\\\\u2019s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: \\\\u201cI am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:47:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896876\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:11:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788894663\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/senegalese-man-sentenced-17-months-unlawfully-reentering-united-states-after-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e29a4662-0088-441c-b12c-b5ea6baca3d5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to commit bank fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between July and October 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESean Stevens\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 23, fraudulently obtained money by driving coconspirators to bank locations, instructing them on what to do inside, and providing them with fictitious identification cards in order to allow them access to legitimate customer accounts. Stevens also agreed with coconspirators to travel to banks outside of Maine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles \\\\u2013 Enforcement Services Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:41:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896462\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maine\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896282\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-me\\\\/pr\\\\/new-york-man-pleads-guilty-bank-fraud-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0a6262af-15cd-4906-87ed-37161ab98754\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer.\\\\u0026nbsp;Belvin faces a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on March 21, 2026, Belvin was the transferee of a Glock handgun from a firearm store in Bradenton. During the transfer, Belvin falsely stated that he was the actual transferee or buyer of the handgun, when in fact, he was obtaining the handgun on behalf of a juvenile. Belvin subsequently provided the handgun to the juvenile after leaving the store.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by\\\\u0026nbsp;the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palmetto Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Jeff Chang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:31:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895918\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:30:55-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895855\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer.\\\\u0026nbsp;Belvin faces a maximum penalty of\\\\u0026nbsp;10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Palmetto Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/palmetto-man-pleads-guilty-straw-purchase-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ba551393-8332-4af1-8702-acfe6b67d690\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEL RIO, Texas \\\\u2013 A Del Rio felon was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in July 2022, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division special agents conducted a traffic stop on Alfredo Martinez Jr., 42, and located a firearm in the vehicle, which he denied owning.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn November 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety executed a state search warrant on Martinez\\\\u2019s residence. During the search, agents found a .357 revolver and two shotguns. Martinez again denied ownership of the firearms, claiming that two individuals had left items at his house that could not fit in their vehicle and that, despite being a convicted felon, he agreed to store their things.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFurther investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that one of the shotguns found in the search of Martinez\\\\u2019s residence had been stolen. On Jan. 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Martinez for two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Jan. 26, 2023, a Val Verde Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on Martinez.\\\\u0026nbsp; The deputy notified an ATF special agent, who arrived on scene and located a loaded MP-25 pistol along with an additional loaded magazine inside Martinez\\\\u2019s vehicle. Martinez was arrested for the charges from the Jan. 11, 2023, indictment. A search warrant was executed on Martinez\\\\u2019s residence, resulting in the recovery of two more firearms and assorted ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMartinez pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Martinez to the statutory maximum.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe ATF and TX DPS CID investigated the case with assistance from the Val Verde Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Ellis-Dotson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allyson Breech prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T08:29:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788870583\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T08:27:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788870467\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAlfredo Martinez Jr. was sentenced in Del Rio to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Del Rio Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/del-rio-felon-sentenced-15-years-federal-prison-firearm-possession\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3f2cd6b3-de0c-4fb1-973a-b8f3f756c766\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESTATESBORO, Georgia:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EAn illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant\\\\u2019s have also been sentenced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe\\\\u0026nbsp;sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge L. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. \\\\u201cMeg\\\\u201d Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMarcial Diaz-Sanchez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EIsaiah Joseph Jaimes\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 25, of South Houston, Texas, was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs described in court documents and testimony, in November 2024, Diaz-Sanchez and his co-defendant attempted to sell a vehicle, which they knew had been stolen from Texas. The defendants used Facebook Marketplace to negotiate and arrange the sale of the vehicle, which unbeknownst to them was to an undercover Jenkins County Deputy Sheriff.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA subsequent search of the defendant\\\\u2019s phone revealed photos of high-end vehicles, counterfeit Texas titles and VINs, and large amounts of U.S. currency.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn additional co-defendant, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERene Armando Reyes Velasquez\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 24, of El Salvador, was previously sentenced in June after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cKnow this: those that steal another\\\\u2019s property and disregard federal law will face justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Heap. \\\\u201cOur extensive relationship with our law enforcement partners was instrumental in the prosecution of this case, directly impacting the safety of our communities and security of our property.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStealing vehicles and attempting to turn stolen property into profit comes with serious consequences,\\\\u201d said Brad Snider, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta\\\\u2019s Statesboro office. \\\\u201cThe FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to disrupt these schemes, recover stolen property, and hold those responsible accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and Jenkins County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Kelsey L. Scanlon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T09:03:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788872639\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e14d3a2a-8182-4984-aed0-95e811946fc8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T08:58:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788872302\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"84-26\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant\\\\u2019s have also been sentenced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally transporting a stolen motor vehicle\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3f6710a-213c-41e6-b11b-3abebf00d2b3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Consumer Protection\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdga\\\\/pr\\\\/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-illegally-transporting-stolen-motor-vehicle\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"93a68375-2e04-4276-b172-a73f51b974de\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentence\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharge(s)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELovechild McGuire, 33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E28 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EChristopher Flax, 50\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E13 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAmiee Ranes, 46\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETrent Marion. 39\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUnique Carter, 28\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeven years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECamri Outlaw, 31\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETime served, two years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid\\\\u2011level distributors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization\\\\u2019s main stash site.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMethamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,\\\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. \\\\u201cDrug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:25:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788881152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:16:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788880605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/evansville-drug-trafficking-organization-dismantled-six-head-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d411645-5679-408c-bb45-88f694417c48\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s02 entity-image-1460436\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d02\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/aaron_cotten.jpeg?itok=5f9NAI_s\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022200\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022281\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022aaron_cotten.jpeg\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWILMINGTON, NC \\\\u2013 A federal judge sentenced Aaron Cotten, 50, of Sanford, NC, to 10 and half years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribution and possession with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, possession with intent to distribution 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCotten\\\\u2019s repeated traffic stops revealed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, along with cash and signs of armed associates, showing just how deeply he was involved in the dangerous drug game,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. \\\\u201cHis efforts to hide this poison, including stuffing a pound of fentanyl inside a car\\\\u2019s engine bay, put communities across Eastern North Carolina at serious risk. With prior convictions for violent crimes and a steady supply line stretching from Charlotte to Down East. This conviction shuts down a major pipeline of deadly drugs in our region. This Big Shark Bad Boy will no longer swim in the shallows threatening our children and communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits \\\\u2013 Do Right.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 15, 2022, the Duplin County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department stopped a vehicle with Cotten in the front passenger seat. Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding more than $15,000 in cash near Cotten\\\\u2019s seat. When deputies attempted to search Cotten, he became combative, resisting arrest. Deputies then searched Cotten and recovered more than a pound of cocaine and several ounces of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 3, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department conducted another traffic stop involving Cotten, who again sat in the front passenger seat. After a K\\\\u20119 alerted to narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and discovered approximately one pound of fentanyl concealed in the engine bay of the car. Deputies also found a gun on another passenger.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed that Cotten distributed pounds and pounds of cocaine and fentanyl across Eastern North Carolina. He sourced the drugs from Charlotte. Cotten has prior convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and second\\\\u2011degree burglary.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence reinforces our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cCocaine and fentanyl trafficking threaten the safety of our communities, and combating these threats requires teamwork and strong partnerships across law enforcement. We will continue working together to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs and make progress toward a Fentanyl Free America.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWherever illegal narcotics are being sold, you find that the likelihood of violent crime greatly increases,\\\\u201d said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. \\\\u201cEvery drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEllis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.\\\\u0026nbsp; The ATF, DEA, Jacksonville Police Department, Beulaville Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and Lee County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u0026nbsp;investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on our\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewebsite\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/ShowIndex.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00068-M-RJ\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:44:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788882289\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:38:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788881908\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460436\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a244ae8-fdd6-4b5b-a11a-c28dcea2b320\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"aaron_cotten.jpeg\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Sanford Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\/pr\\\\/sanford-man-sentenced-over-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c9f75182-f93c-452d-8a84-0b85e85f5e99\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;A Kansas woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and eight counts each of bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, in October 2025, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERachael Kennedy\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 37, entered multiple financial institutions in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and impersonated actual account holders by presenting fictitious U.S. passport cards in the account holders\\\\u2019 names. Kennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit. Kennedy was arrested in Canada after fleeing from police when she left a bank in Houlton.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor bank fraud, Kennedy faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. For aggravated identity theft, she faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed; a $250,000 fine; and up to one year of supervised release. For passport fraud, Kennedy faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Department of State\\\\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service, Portsmouth Resident Office, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Maine State Police, the Hampden Police Department, the Houlton Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Border Services Agency.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T14:31:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788892285\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maine\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T14:26:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788891971\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-me\\\\/pr\\\\/kansas-woman-pleads-guilty-bank-fraud-and-identity-theft-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"169f0c92-3ec6-4f7b-950d-4a198a2e2f8b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMINNEAPOLIS \\\\u2013 United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Jeremy Francis Plonski was sentenced to 324 months in prison and 180 months of supervised release for the production of child pornography and the distribution of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPlonski was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kate M. Menendez on September 8, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, from about April 2023 to October 2023, Plonski produced 23 child pornographic videos. In some of the videos, Plonski, who worked as a Minnesota State Trooper, wore his uniform while personally sexually abusing a minor victim. Plonski then distributed videos that depicted him sexually abusing the minor victim on a social media application.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant took an oath to protect the public, but he instead committed one of the most abhorrent offenses imaginable. Today\\\\u2019s sentence represents my office\\\\u2019s commitment to protect vulnerable children and the cooperation among federal and local law enforcement,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs we said in our previous statement, no badge, no title, and no position will ever place anyone above the law. Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession. We are grateful for the work that went into this investigation and for the accountability that followed,\\\\u201d said Colonel Christina Bogojevic, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol. \\\\u201cJeremy Plonski was terminated by the Minnesota State Patrol.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cJeremy Plonski betrayed everything he swore to protect,\\\\u201d said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. \\\\u201cThe sexual abuse and exploitation of children is always horrendous crime, and as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Plonski knew the terrible harms that come to victims of these offenses. As we did in this case, the FBI and our partners will always act with immediacy and spare no resource to protect children from predators. While a prison sentence cannot repair the harms these crimes have caused, we hope that today\\\\u2019s outcome will offer the victim and their family the sense of peace, safety, justice, and hope they deserve as they work toward healing.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen someone sexually abuses a child, it is repulsive to all of us, but when it is also someone who wears a badge, it is even more disturbing,\\\\u201d said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. \\\\u201cHe vowed to uphold the law and he broke that promise. We are thankful for this result and that he has been held accountable for his actions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and other law enforcement partners.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Minnesota.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ENote: Previous press release on the defendant\\\\u2019s\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/minnesota-state-trooper-charged-production-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Echarge\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/minnesota-state-trooper-indicted-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eindictment\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E linked here.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:24:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902678\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c239363-a40c-4bc6-a17f-dabc265ead6d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Minnesota\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:23:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902628\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mn\\\\/pr\\\\/minnesota-state-trooper-sentenced-27-years-imprisonment-production-and-distribution\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"40abc803-df17-48cc-9c08-bbcf85ca23ee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on October 13, 2016.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETOVAR-MERCADO \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efaces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release,\\\\u0026nbsp;and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;He is also eligible for a 10-year enhanced sentencing because of felony convictions in the Western District of Texas for illegal re-entry into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Border Patrol\\\\u0026nbsp;in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:12:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788898376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:03:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788897807\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013 \\\\u0026nbsp;ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Convictions \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-illegal-alien-indicted-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien-enhanced-penalty-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aff2b2dc-078f-4f69-b630-4c0e02b88089\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter a one-day trial on April 13, 2026, a jury found Shawn Ryan Cowan, 46, guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents and at trial that Cowan, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, was keeping guns in his home. A tip to law enforcement led investigators to seek a warrant and search Cowan\\\\u2019s home.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere they found:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3bbdb5ab4e218f347a558ce8d5d12027\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERuger SR-22, .22 cal. pistol\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e62d4faf2b137725a47670e2ee873a195\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERaven Arms P25, .25 cal. pistol\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eccdc4e95ec38ea21eb981e9ef9efc80f\\\\u0022\\\\u003EF.LLI Pietta Fabrica D\\\\u0027Armi, Big Bore Rough Rider, .357 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ee6ba4bc12f632fb7ef583a0a94af6b5a\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDerya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) TM22-A-18, .22 cal. rifle\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022edf6f03220fe17226c3c4915028fa9ecb\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMarlin Firearms Co. 20, .22 cal. rifle\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6f9376de586e6519e2c8d85d174b815c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHigh Standard Sentinel, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022efd44e1ebc2292b33b0a81c51e970cb9f\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENorth American Arms NAA22, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ea05e129b8026369bbb6cc3a02f44f5fd\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESmith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson 18, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e5dcd766debb50589eaf433c2e26083f4\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDerya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) VRPA40, 12-gauge shotgun\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e5a49790129f7ad2b643366feebe51180\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHeritage Mfg. Inc. Rough Rider, .22 cal. revolver\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EInvestigators also found various types of ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECowan had been convicted previously of aggravated kidnapping, burglary, and possession of dangerous drugs in Montana and so was required to register as a violent offender for life. Cowan, who became belligerent with agents as he was arrested, acknowledged he was \\\\u201ctechnically a felon,\\\\u201d but said he owned guns because his conviction was fraudulently obtained by county officials.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF and Ravalli County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:25:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788888339\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:21:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788888108\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-237\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Following trial, Hamilton man sentenced to 2 years for unlawfully possessing firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/following-trial-hamilton-man-sentenced-2-years-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8b86debe-5a82-452c-9334-a6a8c873f2ab\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHOUSTON \\\\u2013 A 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EErik Guadalupe Ibarra Venegas pleaded guilty June 5.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Venegas to serve 16 months in federal prison and a $100 special assessment. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOct. 28, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a suspicious man pushing two bicycles and carrying tools in a cul-de-sac. Authorities found Venegas walking in the middle of the road obstructing traffic.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the police encounter, the defendant was asked if he had any firearms. Venegas showed the officer a 5.56 caliber pistol that was on his person.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVenegas had no identification and provided a fake name, but fingerprint analysis later confirmed his identity.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed Venegas had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States. As a result, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHe has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHedwig Village Police Department, ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith and AUSA Byron Black prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:22:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895324\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:19:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895198\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal alien sentenced for firearm possession after visa overstay in Houston\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-sentenced-firearm-possession-after-visa-overstay-houston\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"70eff3ba-3335-42db-ba16-adf595826e91\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKANSAS CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Kansas City, Mo. man was charged after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominic M. Miller, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint on Sept. 5, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe federal criminal complaint charges Miller with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of machine guns on July 24, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were conducting general patrol in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Propsect Avenue, when they noticed a vehicle driving with an improper license plate. Officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, Miller, and two other passengers. A computer check revealed Miller had an active warrant out of Kansas and he was arrested.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located two Glock handguns under the passenger floorboard. Both firearms were equipped with a machine gun conversion device, more commonly known as a \\\\u201cswitch.\\\\u201d These devices convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic firearms, more commonly known as machine guns. Laboratory testing confirmed that both firearms functioned as fully automatic machine guns. On Sept. 3, 2026, the Kansas City, Misouri Police Department crime lab located genetic information (\\\\u201cDNA\\\\u201d) consistent with Miller\\\\u2019s DNA on one of the firearms. Prior to this incident, Miller was convicted of the felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Jackson County, Mo., Case Number 2416-CR000871-01.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:16:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902190\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:14:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902078\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominic M. Miller, 21, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a two-count criminal complaint after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Kansas City Man Arrested for Illegal Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/kansas-city-man-arrested-illegal-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fdef3c6f-da06-421c-ae0a-839a53a36736\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066753\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:45:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789065945\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/broken-bow-resident-pleads-guilty-three-counts-child-abuse-indian-country\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a706c0a4-0464-4fde-8a26-5c5e70aabcab\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis indictment sends a clear message: we will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or compromise the security of our nation\\\\u0027s protected facilities,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cThe Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute anyone who attempts to bypass federal gun laws and violate secure spaces.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe FBI will not tolerate acts that jeopardize public safety or the security of our nation\\\\u0027s protected institutions,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. \\\\u201cWe will continue working diligently with our law enforcement partners to investigate any individual who attempts to breach secure areas or circumvent federal firearms restrictions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to allegations contained in the indictment, in February 2026, Demandre Michael Frazier and Jessica Marie Zamora made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of two pistols, one a 9x19mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson and the other a .40 caliber Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson. Later, in April 2026, Jessica Zamora and a yet-to-be publicly unidentified defendant made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of a 10mm Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson pistol.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460496\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/photo_in_u.s._v._treyvon_jameel_currie_et_al_226-cr-00182-apg-ejy.png?itok=-u6AqV_L\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022361\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022301\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Photo of a Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EPhoto of a Smith \\\\u0026amp; Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged, on August 5, 2026, Treyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora, carrying a concealed weapon, entered and attempted to enter the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility. There are notices stating the pertinent prohibitions and penalties posted at all entrances of the facility.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETreyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora are each charged with one count of entry or attempted entry by fraud and false pretenses on real property of the United States with intent to commit a felony in that facility; one count of possession of a firearm in a secure federal facility; one count of unauthorized entry upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy Enclosed by a structural barrier; and one count of unauthorized introduction of a dangerous weapon upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy enclosed by a structural barrier. Zamora is also charged with two counts of illegal acquisition of a firearm. Demandre Michael Frazier is charged with one count of illegal acquisition of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA jury trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and North Las Vegas Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T19:03:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788908617\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T18:58:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788908311\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460496\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5ed1d370-fcd7-40bd-95c0-e43d7c87d240\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Photo of a Smith \\\\u0026 Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Three Individuals Indicted for Illegal Acquisition of Firearms and Unauthorized Entry Into a Secure Federal Facility With a Firearm in North Las Vegas\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/three-individuals-indicted-illegal-acquisition-firearms-and-unauthorized-entry-secure\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"214feb88-9269-4903-84e3-2b61382583d9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EINDIANAPOLIS- Andrew Wade Case, 39, of Columbus, Indiana, has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, as well as distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. Upon release from federal prison, Case must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on December 19, 2024, Andrew Case forced Minor Victim 1\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2014 a child under the age of 12 and in his custody and care\\\\u2014 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a four-minute video.\\\\u0026nbsp;In addition to exploiting the child in his care, Case also distributed other child sexual abuse material to individuals over a peer\\\\u2011to\\\\u2011peer network.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Bloomington Police Department received alerts related to the videos Case shared. When investigators executed a search warrant at Case\\\\u2019s home, they found Minor Victim 1 living in severely neglected conditions, including sleeping on the floor amid insects and showing signs of untreated lice.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA forensic examination of Case\\\\u2019s cell phone revealed more than 600 images and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including content involving sadomasochistic abuse and other depictions of violence or exploitation of infants and toddlers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u201cA child\\\\u2019s home should be a sanctuary of safety, trust, and protection where they are shielded from the dangers of the world. Instead, this safe space was violated by the defendant. It is paramount\\\\u0026nbsp;we safeguard children from every threat, especially when those threats come from within their own home,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003Esaid Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E \\\\u201cWhile this child has endured irreversible trauma, we hope today\\\\u2019s sentence helps restore her trust in the justice system and offers a measure of peace as she moves forward.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Secret Service is committed to leveraging the full weight of its cyber and forensic resources to support investigations into crimes against children,\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003Esaid Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office.\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E \\\\u201cThis case is a sobering reminder of the threat a child can face inside of their own home. Our investigators are committed to using every tool available to hold those who victimize children in their care accountable. We thank the Indiana State Police and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their steadfast partnership throughout this investigation, and we\\\\u2019ll continue to work together to ensure anyone preying on a child in our community is brought to justice.\\\\u201d \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0022The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force maintains zero tolerance for adults who abuse positions of trust to sexually exploit, harm, or abuse children,\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003Esaid Indiana State Police Lieutenant Christopher Cecil, the commander of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E \\\\u0022 We are committed to locating, investigating, and arresting offenders who prey on children. No child deserves to live in fear.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Secret Service and the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/project-safe-childhood\\\\u0022\\\\u003EProject Safe Childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state,\\\\u0026nbsp;and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/project-safe-childhood\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/project-safe-childhood\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a\\\\u0026nbsp;multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children.\\\\u0026nbsp;Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp;Visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Einternetcrimesagainstkids.com\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;to learn more about their efforts.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:09:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788887342\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:07:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788887260\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\" Columbus Man Receives 27-Year Federal Sentence for Sexually Exploiting Child in His Care\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/columbus-man-receives-27-year-federal-sentence-sexually-exploiting-child-his-care\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8dca788e-7b5c-4638-b38e-2f4d6ab60622\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESHERMAN, Texas \\\\u2013A Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERaymundo Duran Baza, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on September 4, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, from September 2024 through October 2024, Baza and at least one other person conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, while not being a licensed firearms dealer.\\\\u0026nbsp; During this time, Baza was responsible for buying and re-selling firearms and Machine Gun Conversion Devices for profit.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E##\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:13:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788876795\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:09:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788876581\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Fannin County man sentenced to federal prison for buying and selling firearms without a license\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/fannin-county-man-sentenced-federal-prison-buying-and-selling-firearms-without-license\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"509eeeee-58cb-47d5-b7e5-6558c6f07d94\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERUTLAND \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alec Diaz, a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cBenn Tenn,\\\\u201d 22, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 144 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between January 2023 and September 2025, Diaz was a manager and supervisor of a drug trafficking organization operating around Bennington, Vermont. Diaz and his associates imported kilograms of cocaine into Vermont on multiple occasions. Once the cocaine was in Vermont, 90% of it was cooked into cocaine base. Diaz and his associates also regularly imported fentanyl. Numerous individuals, including a juvenile, distributed drugs on behalf of Diaz, at times selling over 1,000 bags of fentanyl a day. On September 24, 2025, law enforcement arrested Diaz in Pownal, Vermont. In the camper where Diaz was found, agents seized a .45 caliber handgun, approximately 26 grams of cocaine, approximately 32 grams of cocaine base, and $15,000 cash.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition to drug trafficking, Diaz was involved in firearms trafficking. Diaz obtained both handguns and AR-style rifles from a Bennington-area resident, and later transferred them to another drug trafficker. Diaz also used firearms during his drug trafficking activities, displaying them to intimidate others and protect his drug trafficking operation. On at least one occasion, Diaz obtained a firearm in exchange for drugs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Bennington County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department, the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Bennington Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield (MA) Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Cambridge (NY) Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Ophardt added: \\\\u201cFor two and a half years, Diaz pushed kilograms of poisonous drugs into Vermont for profit while facilitating the movement of firearms to other drug traffickers. Diaz\\\\u2019 lengthy prison sentence should serve as a warning to others who would do the same.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Diaz was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Samuel Ansell.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:40:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788900004\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:36:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899803\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Drug Trafficker from Springfield, Massachusetts Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine in Bennington, Vermont\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-drug-trafficker-springfield-massachusetts-sentenced-144-months-conspiring\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"05cc83ee-0879-45f5-8225-a37e797e25fe\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavid X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TAYLOR DZICZEK, 44, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a bank robbery spree in 2021 and 2022.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, between September 2021 and August 2022, Dziczek committed the following 14 robberies and one attempted robbery of banks and credit unions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eae36fa98158f3e6160345464aa52ecb6\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeptember 9, 2021 \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;Arrha Credit Union, West Springfield, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ecf77a0c889f86730db1cec3669877f29\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeptember 20, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; American Eagle Credit Union, Enfield, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022eb38704238634a823d836e9b1a6653a0c\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 4, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; People\\\\u2019s United Bank, Brattleboro, Vt.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e99c5116be62884fbada4e987d0853a30\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 15, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Webster Bank, East Windsor, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e596bd3d85e6c00ac93dfbac8687cea4e\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 21, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; People\\\\u2019s United Bank, Brattleboro, Vt. (attempt)\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6097c50d7f8450fee5f262fbeff9b97b\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOctober 22, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Webster Bank, Somers, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e688ea708cca784d62fc58d235d7499d8\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENovember 5, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Workers Credit Union, Athol, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e29ca0b530461bf3e3c178549056c99f4\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENovember 19, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Liberty Bank, Avon, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e3ab6ae7c17f1cb75a4297ccbfee29769\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENovember 20, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Savings Bank of Walpole, Keene, N.H.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e05279e9ac0eb07bcb57fa7fbefe60c2d\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDecember 16, 2021\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Montague, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e6a2f14c9f0e8c1234c77427a7593b2f0\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 6, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;KeyBank, East Windsor, Conn\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec1d16f89036035d058c93c218280bac1\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJanuary 21, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;Franklin First Credit Union, Greenfield, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e11dc3d63d6865fa10e7d00db8e491e80\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMay 26, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;People\\\\u2019s United Bank, Plainville, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e624cbd1b0deb622269df201fdbeda072\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJune 3, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;TD Bank, Nashua, N.H.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e4fd091f7102b8924dc95d05a9c135616\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAugust 17, 2022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Liberty Bank, Meriden, Conn.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring each robbery, Dziczek typically turned off his cellphone and drove his car with the license plates removed to the bank or credit union.\\\\u0026nbsp; He then entered the bank or credit union wearing a hooded sweatshirt, surgical mask, and baseball cap, and handed the teller a note demanding cash in large denominations and claiming to have a gun.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation, Dziczek was identified as a suspect who robbed the Peoples United Bank, located at 117 East Street in Plainville, Connecticut, on May 26, 2022.\\\\u0026nbsp; On that date, Dziczek entered the bank, approached the teller counter and gave the teller a note stating words to the effect of, \\\\u201cI have a gun. Don\\\\u2018t call 911. Don\\\\u2018t set off any alarms.\\\\u201c\\\\u0026nbsp; When the teller stated she did not have any more money, Dziczek pulled what appeared to be a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt and made additional statements including \\\\u201cGive me all the money,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cI have a gun,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cDon\\\\u2018t be a hero.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDziczek removed some of the paper money wrappers from the money he received from the teller and discarded them at the bank before he fled the scene.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Plainville Police detectives collected the discarded money wrappers as evidence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn October 21, 2022, FBI special agents surveilled Dziczek while he was in the MGM Casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, and retrieved an energy drink can with a black straw from which Dziczek was observed drinking.\\\\u0026nbsp; Laboratory analysis connected DNA found on the straw to DNA found on discarded money wrappers from the Plainville bank robbery.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDziczek has been detained since his arrest on December 1, 2022.\\\\u0026nbsp; On September 26, 2025, he pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Nagala ordered Dziczek to pay restitution in the total amount of $82,567.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis investigation was conducted by the FBI New Haven Division\\\\u2019s Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Boston Division, FBI Albany Division, Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Athol (Mass.) Police Department, Avon (Conn.) Police Department, Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Department, Chicopee (Mass.) Police Department, East Windsor (Conn.) Police Department, Enfield (Conn.) Police Department, Greenfield (Mass.) Police Department, Keene (N.H.) Police Department, Meriden (Conn.) Police Department, Montague (Mass.) Police Department, Nashua (N.H.) Police Department, Plainville (Conn.) Police Department, Somers (Conn.) Police Department, and Springfield (Mass.) Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services provided valuable assistance to the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings, and Stephanie T. Levick.\\\\u0026nbsp; U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices for the Districts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont and for their close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:42:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903765\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ff874cc1-ca76-4aa4-8013-d253aca40328\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Connecticut\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:33:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903227\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETAYLOR DZICZEK, 44, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a bank robbery spree in 2021 and 2022.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for New England Bank Robbery Spree\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ct\\\\/pr\\\\/massachusetts-man-sentenced-more-7-years-federal-prison-new-england-bank-robbery-spree\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c39e7a08-385e-4bac-b5ab-229194f6efc3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460481\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1c16092-8c72-4b08-b86b-2389ad59f586\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECAMDEN, N.J. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A Camden County man admitted to failing to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes for the employees of his business, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer\\\\u0026nbsp;and Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald\\\\u0026nbsp;announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETyrone Pitts, 60, of Lawnside, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Ren\\\\u00e9e Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of failing to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS payroll taxes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom 2020 through 2023, Pitts was the owner, operator, and president of a construction company called Arline Electrical Construction Services LLC (\\\\u201cAECS\\\\u201d).\\\\u0026nbsp; Pitts had the authority to exercise significant control over AECS\\\\u2019s financial affairs and was a \\\\u201cresponsible person\\\\u201d of AECS, meaning that he was required to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS the payroll taxes withheld from the wages of AECS\\\\u2019s employees. However, during that same time period, Pitts almost entirely failed to file Form 941 employment tax returns and failed to pay over to the IRS approximately $810,403 in employment taxes.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe tax fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General\\\\u0026nbsp;Colin M. McDonald credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to today\\\\u2019s guilty plea.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d).\\\\u0026nbsp; The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance t\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n-1460451\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field-formatter--media-entity-download-download-link field_media_file\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/media\\\\/1460451\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 type=\\\\u0022application\\\\/pdf; length=337272\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022brown_kelly_complaint.pdf\\\\u0022 class=\\\\u0022file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ebrown_kelly_complaint.pdf\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFRESNO, Calif. \\\\u2014 Kelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis, was arrested Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, on a criminal complaint for using her employer\\\\u2019s company credit card to make more than $4 million of unauthorized, personal purchases, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, between November 2020 and October 2024, Brown worked as a bookkeeper at a leading Fresno business specializing in custom countertops and commercial hardwood products. In her role, she had access to the personally identifiable information of employees, including the business\\\\u2019s owner.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 2021, Brown recommended that the owner obtain an American Express credit card for business expenses. The owner, however, was not interested in obtaining an American Express credit card for himself or for his business. Nevertheless, two weeks later Brown gave the owner two American Express credit cards, one under the owner\\\\u2019s personal name and the other under the business name.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA few months later and unbeknownst to the owner, Brown obtained a credit card in her own name under the owner\\\\u2019s American Express account without his authorization. Brown began using this credit card for unauthorized personal expenses, including luxury retail purchases, travel, health and beauty treatments, and a down payment on a 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn August 2022, Brown started an online apparel store, Western Edge Boutique. Around the same time, she made numerous clothing and apparel-related purchases on the unauthorized card.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBrown used the business\\\\u2019s bank account to make payments to American Express from 2021 through 2024 to conceal and further her fraud scheme. In late 2024, the owner discovered the scheme and fired Brown. Brown spent more than $4 million dollars on unauthorized purchases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arelis M. Clemente is prosecuting this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T13:23:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788888182\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"783bd771-c8bc-425a-b381-bc7942bfd7e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - California, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:37:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788885478\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKelly Lynn Brown, 47, of Clovis, was arrested on a criminal complaint for using her employer\\\\u2019s company credit card to make more than $4 million of unauthorized, personal purchases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Clovis woman arrested for multimillion dollar fraud scheme \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edca\\\\/pr\\\\/clovis-woman-arrested-multimillion-dollar-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2afbbfc4-8fcb-4115-8594-3d38c695c399\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson\\\\u2019s shell corporation or other vendors.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:33:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:31:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899508\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-foundation-it-manager-sentenced-prison-embezzling-nearly-1-million-employer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"736edf4b-594e-4ff4-86d6-a8ef6fee1b4d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp; United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Holbert to 109 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the felon in possession charge and 46 months for violating his supervised release of a prior federal conviction, for a total of 155 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Holbert is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn October 4, 2025, at 0134 hours, an Omaha Police officer was patrolling The Old Market when he was alerted to a \\\\u201cperson with a gun\\\\u201d located \\\\u201cup the street\\\\u201d.\\\\u0026nbsp; The officer exited his cruiser at which time he heard a single gunshot. A short time later, officers located Victim 1 who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hip. A description of the shooter was provided along with his path of travel. Officers located an individual matching the suspect\\\\u2019s description near 13th and Farnam streets, identifying him as Holbert.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers canvassed the area and located a single spent 9mm casing stamped \\\\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\\\u201d at 12th and Howard streets. Officers canvassed the path of Holbert\\\\u2019s travel and located a discarded firearm directly in front of 1210 Howard Street. The firearm was located underneath a black Chevrolet SUV and identified as a Glock 43x 9mm handgun. The firearm was equipped with an extended high-capacity magazine that contained several rounds of \\\\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\\\u201d live ammunition.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers reviewed video surveillance footage and noted Holbert appeared at approximately 0136 hours walking north on South 13th Street. During this time, Holbert appeared to observe a marked police cruiser at which time he began running north out of the camera view toward the Gene Leahy Mall. At 0150 hours, Holbert can be seen returning to the north facing entrance of an area hotel. Holbert remained in this area until he was taken into custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers obtained additional video surveillance from area businesses.\\\\u0026nbsp; The videos show Victim 1 and Holbert engaged in a verbal altercation on the corner of 13th and Howard streets. Holbert can be seen clutching his waistband repeatedly, as if concealing an item hidden underneath his clothing. Holbert and the victim then walk out of camera view to the southwest before a single gunshot is heard on the video. Holbert is then seen running east on Howard Street out of the camera view. The path of travel for Holbert was also noted to be the path where the firearm was located by officers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe spent 9mm casing stamped \\\\u201cAguila 9mm luger\\\\u201d recovered on scene was determined to have been fired from the recovered Glock Model 43X 9mm firearm. Two fingerprints were recovered from the firearm\\\\u2019s internal magazine. A senior forensic technician with the Omaha Police Forensic Investigations Unit identified the fingerprints as belonging to Holbert.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHolbert has multiple prior felony convictions for Carrying a Concealed Weapon -2\\\\u003Csup\\\\u003End\\\\u003C\\\\/sup\\\\u003E offense, possession of a firearm by felon, both in the District Court for Douglas County, Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHolbert was arrested in 2017 as part of Operation Brass Catcher, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives-led operation targeting Crips gang members.\\\\u0026nbsp; Holbert was indicted on 10 counts, including four counts of distributing crack cocaine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Holbert pleaded guilty to several counts and was sentenced to 240 months\\\\u2019 custody in the Bureau of Prisons.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 21, 2025, Holbert, along with several thousand inmates, was granted Executive Clemency by the Biden administration and released after serving just 100 months of his original 240-month sentence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:26:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902770\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nebraska\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:24:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902657\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKhyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Omaha Man Granted Presidential Clemency Convicted Again: Felon in Possession of a Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ne\\\\/pr\\\\/omaha-man-granted-presidential-clemency-convicted-again-felon-possession-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f5a00bd7-d2cb-438c-9752-716585fa3825\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJacksonville, Florida \\\\u2013 Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, law enforcement officers received a cybertip that a social media user from Jacksonville had uploaded files of CSAM. After reviewing the information in the cybertip, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the social media account and learned that it belonged to Whitaker. After reviewing Whitaker\\\\u2019s Facebook account, further evidence led to a search warrant of Whitaker\\\\u2019s home where his cellphone was seized and searched. Whitaker\\\\u2019s phone contained more than 100 images and videos depicting CSAM.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time of this offense, Whitaker was on probation following a Florida state prison sentence for possession of child pornography. In addition, since Whitaker has been classified as a sexually violent predator, once he serves his prison sentence, under Florida law, he will be committed to a security facility for control, care, and treatment.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force.\\\\u0026nbsp;It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIt is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:55:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788886546\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:55:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788886500\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJacksonville, Florida \\\\u2013 Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/jacksonville-sex-predator-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possession-child-sexual\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"55c683dc-c9fb-49f3-8ecc-97320e43aace\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Dortch on August 17, 2026, and Orduna on August 31, 2026, to 204 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment: 120 months for bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. McKnight was sentenced on August 31, 2026, to 60 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. McKnight\\\\u2019s sentence will be served consecutive to concurrent 96-month sentences imposed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska and U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system. After Dortch and Orduna are released from prison, they will begin five-year terms of supervised release. McKnight will serve a three-year term of supervised release concurrent to the other terms of supervised release ordered in his prior cases. All were ordered to pay restitution to Community State Bank in the amount of $71,097.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween October 3 and November 7, 2023, McKnight and Dortch had a group chat where they agreed to \\\\u201cget money\\\\u201d and began plotting. At that time, McKnight was incarcerated at FCI Pollock because of a prior federal bank robbery conviction.\\\\u0026nbsp; McKnight utilized a smuggled phone to initiate the group chat.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 14, 2025, Orduna and Dortch were captured on video surveillance arriving at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, and ultimately drove to the Community State Bank, where they were captured on video surveillance entering the bank wearing disguises to include realistic human face masks with handguns drawn.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThey pointed handguns at the bank employees and demanded money.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dortch grabbed an employee, led her to the vault at gunpoint, and demanded she place the money in a bag.\\\\u0026nbsp; Dortch and Orduna directed bank employees to spread bills to ensure there were no dye packs. Orduna took the money from the teller drawers, then Dortch and Orduna zip-tied the bank employees, instructed them to lie on the floor of the vault, and then closed the vault with the employees inside.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDortch and Orduna left the bank with $71,097.00, including bait bills.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning on January 25, 2025, McKnight, while still in prison, searched eBay for realistic, silicone human face masks and saved maps to various banks in Nebraska and Iowa with a smuggled phone and subsequently used the phone to email Dortch about banks that presented good robbery prospects. He advised Dortch about multiple banks in rural towns outside of Omaha, estimated their cash on hand, the amount of law enforcement presence in those towns, expected law enforcement response times to those banks, and he provided maps to the banks.\\\\u0026nbsp; McKnight specifically identified a bank in Modale, Iowa.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 7, 2025, GPS tracking information taken in combination with records from Dortch and Orduna\\\\u2019s phone providers showed that Orduna and Dortch met up and travelled approximately 35 minutes together to Modale, Iowa, where they drove by the Community Bank to \\\\u201ccase\\\\u201d it.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 12, 2025, law enforcement foiled their apparent plans and arrested Dortch and Orduna at their respective residences and executed search warrants. At Orduna\\\\u2019s residence, law enforcement recovered $5,520 and a firearm. At Dortch\\\\u2019s residence, law enforcement recovered $11,210 including the Community State Bank bait bills, two firearms, the masks worn by Dortch and Orduna, and clothing worn during the robbery.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese sentences demonstrate that violence does not pay,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. \\\\u201cIf you take a gun into a business and assault innocent employees who are simply doing their job, the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office will hold you maximumly accountable in federal court for those choices.\\\\u0026nbsp; The deputies and police officers that recovered the stolen money and the firearm performed a great public service in this case, and I thank them for it.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Police Department, and Saunders County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:28:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902887\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nebraska\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:26:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788902784\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Omaha Men and Federal Inmate Sentenced for Cedar Bluffs Armed Bank Robbery\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ne\\\\/pr\\\\/omaha-men-and-federal-inmate-sentenced-cedar-bluffs-armed-bank-robbery\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6887a28f-d404-47f2-9a56-c819ae9471a4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, a Russian national and web developer who was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, appeared in federal court last week on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his alleged role in a transnational conspiracy responsible for large\\\\u2011scale bank account takeovers.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis investigation and indictment underscore our commitment to disrupting large-scale cyber theft,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cWith assistance from our international partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize technology for personal gain and hold them fully accountable in an American courtroom.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFilimonov allegedly used spoofed domains and fraudulent login pages to target unsuspecting online banking customers, stealing millions from victims,\\\\u201d said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. \\\\u201cThis announcement is a powerful demonstration of the value of our partnerships on cybercrime, without which these extraditions and arrests would not be possible.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from November 2023 through October 2025, Filimonov and his co\\\\u2011conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search\\\\u2011engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspirators used the stolen credentials to access bank accounts, review account balances, and initiate unauthorized wire transfers to steal bank account funds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment also alleges that Filimonov developed and maintained online infrastructure supporting the operation, including interactive databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture and transmit sensitive authentication data. Filimonov and his co-conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain millions of dollars from victim accounts, including accounts held by companies located in the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the charged scheme, the Department of Justice\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-announces-seizure-stolen-password-database-used-bank-account-takeover\\\\u0022\\\\u003Epreviously seized the domain\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E web3adspanels.org, which operated as a backend server storing stolen credentials harvested from fraudulent banking websites. The seized server contained thousands of compromised credentials, including those belonging to victims located in the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESince January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant and to follow\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.fbi.gov\\\\/investigate\\\\/cyber\\\\/alerts\\\\/2025\\\\/account-takeover-fraud-via-impersonation-of-financial-institution-support\\\\u0022\\\\u003Esteps recommended by the FBI\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, including regularly monitoring financial accounts, using \\\\u201cBookmarks\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cFavorites\\\\u201d for navigating to login websites, and guarding against phishing attempts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 4, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, of Russia, w\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0076 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_015Wia2ZQwTB2wm4KLXita91

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_015Wia2ZQwTB2wm4KLXita91", "elapsed": 4.207519588, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":6},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.5201067924499512},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson\\\\u2019s shell corporation or other vendors.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:33:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899588\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:31:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899508\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/former-foundation-it-manager-sentenced-prison-embezzling-nearly-1-million-employer\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"736edf4b-594e-4ff4-86d6-a8ef6fee1b4d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively.\\\\u0026nbsp; BARKER faces charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen money for his role in a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, resulting in losses of over $1.7 million to more than 20 victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in January 2026 to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with this scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp; Following sentencing, GIBBS fled to Jamaica and now faces additional charges for bail jumping.\\\\u0026nbsp; BAKER and GIBBS arrived in the United States on August 27, 2026, and were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.\\\\u0026nbsp; Both cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s extradition makes clear that fraudsters who exploit vulnerable victims will be held accountable and that those who would seek to escape the consequences of their crimes will be relentlessly pursued until they are brought to justice,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAttempting to escape a federal sentence or hide from charges across the ocean is a losing strategy,\\\\u201d said U.S. Marshal Ricky J. Patel.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cRicki Rickaline Gibbs jumped bail and fled to Jamaica, but the USMS in the Southern District of New York and the USMS Jamaica Foreign Field Office, working hand-in-hand with local Jamaican law enforcement, tracked both Gibbs and Swayne Barker down.\\\\u0026nbsp; Our message is clear: if you prey on vulnerable individuals there will be nowhere safe for you to hide.\\\\u0026nbsp; We will find you and bring you back to answer for your crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Superseding Indictment through which BARKER is charged and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:(1)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom at least in or about 2019 through at least in or about 2023, BARKER and GIBBS defrauded more than 20 victims of over $1.7 million by\\\\u0026nbsp;representing to victims that they had won prizes in a sweepstakes and needed to transfer money to pay taxes and fees to claim their purported prizes.\\\\u0026nbsp;In truth, the victims had not won any sweepstakes prizes, and\\\\u0026nbsp;BARKER, GIBBS,\\\\u0026nbsp;and others misappropriated these victims\\\\u2019 funds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictims of this scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name\\\\u2014e.g., \\\\u201cRobert James,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cRobert Hill,\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cMark Miller\\\\u201d\\\\u2014claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.\\\\u0026nbsp; The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.\\\\u0026nbsp; In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.\\\\u0026nbsp; After luring victims in with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of this scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.\\\\u0026nbsp; Gibbs is a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, who participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica, including BARKER, who is a citizen of Jamaica.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the Indictment charging GIBBS with failure to surrender for service of sentence and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGIBBS was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth M. Karas on January 7, 2026, and ordered to surrender on February 9, 2026, to the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, or to a designated facility.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS failed to surrender to the United States Marshal on that date and instead fled to Jamaica, where she was arrested in April 2026 pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest warrant.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBARKER is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, as well conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS is charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; In addition to this new charge, GIBBS has been extradited to serve her pending sentence of 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp; GIBBS has also been ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing BARKER and GIBBS\\\\u2019s arrest and extradition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s White Plains Division.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges against BARKER in the Superseding Indictment and against GIBBS in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8d8aee892966debd374ca87a58502999\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022#ref-ftn1\\\\u0022\\\\u003E^\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment\\\\u0026nbsp;against BARKER and the description of the\\\\u0026nbsp;Superseding Indictment against BARKER set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:32:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788895929\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74a73c45-5b18-4be8-8a98-5faa6e3d44e7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:59:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788879550\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-251\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Husband And Wife Fraudsters Extradited From Jamaica After Wife\\\\u2019s Failed Attempt To Flee Justice\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdny\\\\/pr\\\\/husband-and-wife-fraudsters-extradited-jamaica-after-wifes-failed-attempt-flee-justice\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d53fb822-470f-496d-8d6f-328a123d5be9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctable class=\\\\u0022table\\\\u0022 border=\\\\u00221\\\\u0022 cellspacing=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022 cellpadding=\\\\u00220\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDefendant\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESentence\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECharge(s)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ELovechild McGuire, 33\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E28 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EChristopher Flax, 50\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E13 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAmiee Ranes, 46\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETrent Marion. 39\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003E15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUnique Carter, 28\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESeven years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, five years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECamri Outlaw, 31\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETime served, two years of supervised release\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ctd style=\\\\u0022width:213px;\\\\u0022\\\\u003EConspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine\\\\u003C\\\\/td\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/tbody\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/table\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid\\\\u2011level distributors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization\\\\u2019s main stash site.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMethamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,\\\\u201d said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. \\\\u201cDrug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:25:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788881152\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"438b1b61-f5b9-49f9-842e-8d1ce7efeb4a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Indiana, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:16:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788880605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdin\\\\/pr\\\\/evansville-drug-trafficking-organization-dismantled-six-head-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d411645-5679-408c-bb45-88f694417c48\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:59:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789066753\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T14:45:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789065945\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013 \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children\\\\u2019s health, safety, and welfare.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/broken-bow-resident-pleads-guilty-three-counts-child-abuse-indian-country\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a706c0a4-0464-4fde-8a26-5c5e70aabcab\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on Aug. 5, Swan intentionally assaulted a United States Postal Service mail carrier while the victim was engaged in his official duties. Swan allegedly struck the mail carrier several times and threw him to the ground, inflicting bodily injury.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESwan was indicted on Sept. 2 and brought into custody today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssaulting a federal employee carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:02:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883343\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:00:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883221\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECINCINNATI \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man for assaulting postal worker\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/grand-jury-indicts-cincinnati-man-assaulting-postal-worker\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"850de09e-e7f4-4f7c-8314-392f12a3523c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJOHN PAUL GAGE JR\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E., (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E) age 43, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after he previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7841(a)(1), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(A), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(C), and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u00a7846, as well illegal use of communications facility, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7843(b) and Title 18,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a72.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least June 5, 2024,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E conspired with several individuals to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine throughout the Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy involved obtaining narcotics from Houston, Texas and transporting the narcotics to Thibodaux, Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications, and the use of multiple vehicles. On numerous occasions,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eused his cell phone to further this conspiracy and distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to numerous customers in Thibodaux, Louisiana.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eultimately trafficked at least thirty kilograms of cocaine from Houston into the Eastern District of Louisiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U. S. Attorney Simpson, praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Violent Crimes Unit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:52:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788886370\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:39:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788885592\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJOHN PAUL GAGE JR\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E., (\\\\u201c\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGAGE JR.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E) age 43, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after he previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7841(a)(1), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(A), \\\\u00a7841(b)(1)(C), and\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u00a7846, as well illegal use of communications facility, in violation of\\\\u0026nbsp;Title 21,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7843(b) and Title 18,\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a72.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Lafourche Parish Resident Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/lafourche-parish-resident-sentenced-cocaine-distribution-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46380ca0-59d3-47f4-b37b-d07a579fb612\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 A Moberly, Missouri man was sentenced to 27 months in prison Tuesday and ordered to repay the $284,000 that he fraudulently obtained via a pandemic rental assistance scam.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESteven W. Hendren, 34, submitted numerous fraudulent applications for State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission from March 2021 through June 2024. Hendren falsely listed himself as a landlord in the loan applications and included fake lease agreements and financial statements. He also submitted other applications in which he fraudulently inflated rent amounts and altered lease agreements and financial statements.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe SAFHR program was designed to provide emergency assistance for rent, utility bills and other expenses during the pandemic. Hendren received $284,840, much of which he used for personal expenses including the purchase of a 2020 GMC Yukon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHendren pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of wire fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u0027Fraud Division\\\\u0027). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:40:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903613\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T17:36:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788903370\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESteven W. Hendren submitted numerous fraudulent applications for State Assistance for Housing Relief rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Missouri Man Sentenced for $284,000 Pandemic Rental Assistance Fraud\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b7ce2474-26e0-427a-94c4-95dee8df26cb\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Disaster Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/missouri-man-sentenced-284000-pandemic-rental-assistance-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f4a0bdf-b213-4b19-bb4a-eddb8b755bcc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBURLINGTON \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow\\\\u2019s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: \\\\u201cI am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:47:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788896876\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b20f8799-5063-46c7-b921-3877b12caab0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Vermont\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T15:11:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788894663\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-vt\\\\/pr\\\\/senegalese-man-sentenced-17-months-unlawfully-reentering-united-states-after-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e29a4662-0088-441c-b12c-b5ea6baca3d5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda, a 45-year-old male from Can\\\\u00f3vanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 20, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda on six charges of production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child exploitation material.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, from in or about November 2025, to July 2026, defendant Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda possessed and knowingly accessed with intent to view child pornography. Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda, using his cellular telephone and other electronic devices, which had internet capabilities, possessed images and videos of child pornography including images of toddlers, prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFrom or about January 9, 2026, to on or about January 12, 2026, Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda knowingly induced, enticed, and coerced a minor, or attempted to do so, that is a 3-year-old male minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The defendant is also charged with two more counts of production of child pornography in February and April 2026, for enticing and coercing a prepubescent male minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda is also facing one count of receipt and one count of transportation of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThose who prey on children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,\\\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3 of the District of Puerto Rico. \\\\u201cI thank the dedicated HSI agents and prosecutors who investigated and charged this case for their tireless efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBehind every child exploitation case is a child who has been harmed, and this arrest is another urgent reminder that predators do not fit one profile, and victims do not fit one gender,\\\\u201d said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. \\\\u201cHSI San Juan has seen a troubling pattern of adult males seeking to exploit male minors, and we will continue to call attention to that reality without minimizing the risk to any child. Our message is clear: child exploitation is not limited by stereotypes, and neither is our enforcement response. HSI San Juan will follow the evidence, identify victims, and pursue those accused of targeting children with the full weight of our investigative authorities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Daynelle \\\\u00c1lvarez-Lora from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) production of child pornography \\\\u2013 minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison; (2) receipt of child exploitation material \\\\u2013 five to 20 years in prison; (2) transportation of child exploitation material \\\\u2013 five to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography \\\\u2013 a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment.\\\\u0026nbsp; All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about HSI\\\\u2019s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.dhs.gov\\\\/k2p\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKnow2Protect.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\\\/psc.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:10:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883840\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T11:57:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883068\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-095\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-Garc\\\\u00eda, a 45-year-old male from Can\\\\u00f3vanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"45-Year-Old Can\\\\u00f3vanas Man Arrested for Child Exploitation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/45-year-old-canovanas-man-arrested-child-exploitation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"af92f18d-bb8c-4e69-aeb8-11474266f232\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHILADELPHIA \\\\u2013 United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Scott Testa, 60, of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with two counts of cyberstalking, arising from online conduct targeting a local government official, a police officer, and their families.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant appeared in federal court this afternoon for a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott W. Reid, at which Testa was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment alleges that, on multiple dates in April of this year, the defendant, with the intent to harass and intimidate two victims affiliated with Whitpain Township, used the internet and\\\\/or electronic mail to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, as alleged, in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image depicting one victim wearing a white Ku Klux Klan robe with the name of his current employer in the background, and included false information about the victim, which defendant Testa knew to be false when it was posted. Then, as further alleged, Testa posted the names of this victim\\\\u2019s children and an address of a home which he believed to be the victim\\\\u2019s true home address.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn addition, the indictment alleges that, also in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image of a second victim and his family, including his minor children, with their faces exposed so that they could be identified, depicting them all wearing white Ku Klux Klan robes. Each time, along with the photograph, the defendant identified the victim and his family. Testa also posted messages directed at the victim, like \\\\u201cwe are watching you,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cwe are coming,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201c\\\\u2026This does not get erased; it\\\\u2019s forever. Your career and your family\\\\u2019s future is going to be pockmarked with you cowards. \\\\u2026 we are going to run you out of town.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia\\\\u2019s Fort Washington Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:38:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788899909\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6290ca32-97b0-4c9b-b072-26fe2d7544ba\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T14:05:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788890708\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Montgomery County Man Charged With Cyberstalking in Connection With Messages Targeting Local Official, Police Officer, and Their Families\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4fa4c741-0265-444e-a954-076c97457ea1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Cybercrime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edpa\\\\/pr\\\\/montgomery-county-man-charged-cyberstalking-connection-messages-targeting-local\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"16f2093f-e506-4fd9-85ee-dd3e9cadad6c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging document, the defendant was found in the United States on August 18, 2026, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States after being previously deported on October 13, 2016.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ETOVAR-MERCADO \\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efaces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release,\\\\u0026nbsp;and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;He is also eligible for a 10-year enhanced sentencing because of felony convictions in the Western District of Texas for illegal re-entry into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the\\\\u0026nbsp;United States Border Patrol\\\\u0026nbsp;in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;*\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:12:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788898376\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T16:03:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788897807\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELOUISIANA \\\\u2013 \\\\u0026nbsp;ANDRES TOVAR-MERCADO (\\\\u0022TOVAR-MERCADO\\\\u0022)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;age 39, a native of Mexico, was indicted on September 3, 2026, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2),\\\\u0026nbsp;announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, with Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Convictions \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-illegal-alien-indicted-illegal-re-entry-removed-alien-enhanced-penalty-prior\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"aff2b2dc-078f-4f69-b630-4c0e02b88089\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn January 25, 2024, FBI Special Agents arrested Torres-Gerena, former boxing coach, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 16-year-old female minor. Evidence and witness testimonies presented during trial revealed that the defendant, who was a trusted father figure for the victim, invited her to lunch and instead transported her to a motel and attempted to rape her.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese cases are particularly sensitive and require expertise, patience, understanding, and compassion for the victim,\\\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez Carb\\\\u00f3. \\\\u201cThis verdict sends a clear message that those who exploit minors or attempt to do so will be held fully accountable and face significant consequences for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s verdict reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,\\\\u201d said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s San Juan Field Office. \\\\u201cThanks to the courage of the victim and the dedicated work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, justice was served. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who exploit or harm children are brought to account, no exceptions.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, followed by a supervised release term of five years up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, at 9:00 am. The defendant was ordered detained in custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle \\\\u00c1lvarez\\\\u2011Lora and Fabiola Rivera-Laboy from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov\\\\/psc.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:52:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788879122\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0daedbc9-740c-437f-881b-4e602c8e78d7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Puerto Rico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:39:22-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788878362\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788868800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-094\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"60-Year-Old Man from Arecibo Found Guilty of Child Exploitation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-pr\\\\/pr\\\\/60-year-old-man-arecibo-found-guilty-child-exploitation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f918e98a-f5aa-4b3a-a6ef-5d0f8549bacc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFORT WORTH, Texas \\\\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, launched Operation New Day, a public safety initiative aimed at ridding the Fort Worth community of dangerous criminal offenders in advance of the upcoming holiday season.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFormally launched on Aug. 24, this 90-day operation focuses on prosecuting narcotics traffickers, dangerous illegal aliens and other violent offenders. By removing these threats from the community, U.S. Attorney Raybould aims to help ensure a safer and more family\\\\u2011friendly holiday season.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELess than two weeks since its inception, Operation New Day has resulted in 23 new federal cases being filed by the Fort Worth Division.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThose who break our laws, flood our streets with drugs and commit violent acts in our community should understand that they are not welcome in Fort Worth,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\\\u201cNorth Texas will not serve as a refuge for individuals who persist in violating federal law, nor will it provide a respite for those who believe they can evade justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESince launching Operation New Day, the Fort Worth Division has seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Ealong with distribution quantities of crack cocaine, and powder cocaine. Additional charges have been filed against multiple individuals for offenses including possession of a machine gun, escape from detention, narcotics distribution and illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFort Worth is the 10th\\\\u2011largest city in the nation and Operation New Day represents a significant step toward making Fort Worth the safest big city in the nation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-05T10:00:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788616816\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-05T09:58:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788616722\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788609600\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, launched Operation New Day, a public safety initiative aimed at ridding the Fort Worth community of dangerous criminal offenders in advance of the upcoming holiday season.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"It\\\\u2019s a New Day in Fort Worth: Federal operation aims to remove violent offenders from the community\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/its-new-day-fort-worth-federal-operation-aims-remove-violent-offenders-community\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3edc3991-2e4b-40b2-8e76-cb3082305cd5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth\\\\u2019s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:15:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556527\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:13:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556396\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-213\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/dillon-man-sentenced-18-months-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5ef9ed54-dd8a-45f8-9d48-7b8b62b04140\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFive individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,\\\\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \\\\u201cIt is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, these five individuals in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, including two illegal aliens, stole votes from American citizens when they decided to break the law and undermine our elections,\\\\u201d said FBI Director Kash Patel. \\\\u201cProtecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI. Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections, and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. \\\\u201cIllegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic. This office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cGovernment has a responsibility to the people to safeguard elections,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cEven one illegal vote is one too many.\\\\u0026nbsp;Here in New Jersey, the federal government is taking this responsibility seriously and violations of federal election law will be investigated and prosecuted to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that no citizens\\\\u2019 votes are diluted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cProtecting the integrity of federal elections is a fundamental responsibility of the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. \\\\u201cThe charge against this defendant reflects our commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring that every vote cast complies fully with federal requirements. No one is above these obligations, and my office will continue to pursue cases where unlawful voting occurs.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation\\\\u2019s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,\\\\u201d said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). \\\\u201cThe American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMiddle District of Pennsylvania\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Guzman illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Guzman was charged with voting as an alien. Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting and fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKatya Rodriguez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Holtzman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Guzman faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHSI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting the cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDistrict of New Jersey\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County, New Jersey, was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. According to the complaint, Cardoso was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a U.S. citizen, which is required to register to vote and vote in federal elections.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECardoso allegedly cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates who were vying for election for the office of President and Vice President of the United States. At the time she cast her ballot, Cardoso, who entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa, was not a U.S. citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Cardoso faces a maximum\\\\u0026nbsp;penalty\\\\u0026nbsp;of one year in prison. She is scheduled to have an initial appearance on Sept. 8.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI, HSI, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren for the District of New Jersey is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EWestern District of Wisconsin\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Beloit, Wisconsin, was charged on Sept. 2, with illegally voting as an alien in the November 2022 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to a criminal information, on Nov. 8, 2022, Jurado Garcia, knowing he was not a U.S. citizen, illegally voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the offices of Member of the Senate and Member of the House of Representatives.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Jurado Garcia faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EA complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:35:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546931\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e99b9547-7d65-42c6-9404-68fab0db9543\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Office of the Attorney General\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1284e54-1a64-49f4-82c3-b02081ffee19\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Jersey\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:57:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788530244\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1020\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFive individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registration in 2022 or 2024 Election\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6a5fd78e-8f57-437e-929a-a371cbe733a0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Voting and Elections\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/five-charged-pennsylvania-new-jersey-and-wisconsin-illegally-voting-fraudulent-registration\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e817d062-8de5-4e4e-8ec0-1b5450c8559f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A federal jury has convicted two defendants of conspiring to retaliate against individuals who provided information to law enforcement during an investigation of a violent Chicago street gang.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMARKEEVES BROOKS knowingly conspired to retaliate against an individual and DONNITA BRYANT knowingly conspired to retaliate against two individuals who cooperated with law enforcement in a federal investigation of the Faceworld street gang.\\\\u0026nbsp; Bryant\\\\u2019s son, DIONTAE HARPER, was a member of Faceworld and a subject of the investigation and prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp; The two cooperating individuals provided information against Harper in a murder case in which he was charged and were providing additional information in a related investigation into the Faceworld gang.\\\\u0026nbsp; From January to September 2025, Brooks and Bryant publicly disseminated a video of a law enforcement interview with one of the cooperators and discussed publicizing a sworn grand jury statement by the other cooperator.\\\\u0026nbsp; Harper had received the video and the grand jury statement during the discovery and sentencing phases of his murder case.\\\\u0026nbsp;The discovery materials were subject to a protective order and were legally prohibited from being shared with others.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAfter an eight-day trial in U.S.\\\\u0026nbsp;District Court in Chicago, the jury on Wednesday convicted Brooks, 28, of Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa, and Bryant, 47, of Chicago, of conspiracy\\\\u0026nbsp;to commit witness retaliation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Brooks was also convicted of a substantive offense of witness retaliation.\\\\u0026nbsp; The jury acquitted Bryant of the same substantive offense, and also acquitted a third defendant, MICHAELA\\\\u0026nbsp;RICHARD, 26, of Chicago, of the sole\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiracy count against her.\\\\u0026nbsp; U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin has not yet set sentencing dates for Brooks and Bryant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EHarper, 26, of Chicago, pleaded guilty\\\\u0026nbsp;prior to trial to a witness retaliation charge.\\\\u0026nbsp;Harper\\\\u2019s sentencing has not yet been scheduled.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Schwartz, Sushma Raju, John \\\\u201cL.J.\\\\u201d Pavletic, and Jessica Ecker.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn May 2025, Harper was convicted in the murder case and subsequently\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-judge-sentences-chicago-street-gang-member-34-years-prison-murdering-man-and\\\\u0022\\\\u003Esentenced\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E to 34 years in federal prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; The murder occurred in 2020 in Chicago\\\\u2019s Auburn Gresham neighborhood.\\\\u0026nbsp; Harper admitted in a plea agreement that he fatally shot a man so that Harper could maintain and increase his position in Faceworld, whose members engaged in violent crimes and trafficked narcotics.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:18:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788549504\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:14:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788549296\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMARKEEVES BROOKS and DONNITA BRYANT conspired\\\\u0026nbsp;to commit witness retaliation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Jury Convicts Two Defendants of Conspiring To Retaliate Against Individuals Who Cooperated With Law Enforcement in Chicago Gang Investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-two-defendants-conspiring-retaliate-against-individuals-who\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"877c739d-e666-41e3-8588-42942c912206\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHATTANOOGA, Tenn. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp; On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.\\\\u0026nbsp; Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 2251(a) and (e).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that\\\\u0026nbsp;through his Instagram account of \\\\u201ccandy_cams,\\\\u201d and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online.\\\\u0026nbsp; To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender.\\\\u0026nbsp; By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.\\\\u0026nbsp; Buckley\\\\u2019s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about PSC, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about internet safety education, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E and click the tab \\\\u0022resources.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:20:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788535230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3601535d-4e8a-4029-a9aa-12d40fdbfa41\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T06:55:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788519356\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtn\\\\/pr\\\\/chattanooga-man-sentenced-25-years-exploitation-minor\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0dfd75c5-cf1a-47fa-9983-12667c90c25d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EST. LOUIS \\\\u2013 A caregiver from Dent County, Missouri on Friday admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELoretta Pyeatt, 52, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of fraud in connection with access devices. She admitted that she worked for the victim from roughly July 2023 to September 2025. At the time she started, the victim had at least $232,026 and was receiving Social Security Administration retirement benefits and Veteran\\\\u2019s Affairs benefits monthly. He gave Pyeatt his debit cards so she could buy groceries for him. Pyeatt, however, used the card to make cash withdrawals and additional unauthorized purchases. Before Pyeatt started working for the victim, he had 20 to 30 debit transactions per month. That ballooned to as many as 330 transactions per month. By July 2025, the victim\\\\u2019s account balance had declined to less than $5,600.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyeatt is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:05:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788552346\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ed58e6-1717-4167-b27e-c129638cff11\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:58:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788551880\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELoretta Pyeatt admitted stealing at least $321,000 from a client.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dent County Caregiver Admits Stealing from Client\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"75e37872-11ad-4299-8469-4254fbc1597e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Elder Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edmo\\\\/pr\\\\/dent-county-caregiver-admits-stealing-client\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f21ea2c1-eab4-4f31-ae23-e0e5e00aef46\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;A fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man was sentenced to 81 months in prison for federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EStephen Craig Campbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 76, became a fugitive after being accused in 1982 of attempting to murder his estranged wife\\\\u2019s boyfriend by planting a homemade explosive device at his home. The device detonated when \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s estranged wife opened the package, causing severe lacerations and the loss of one of her fingers. The explosion also started a fire that spread to a second apartment unit. A 1983 warrant remains outstanding in Wyoming for \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s failure to appear on the original charge of Attempted First-Degree Murder.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter becoming a fugitive, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E went to lengths to conceal his true identity. He stole and assumed the identity of his deceased former classmate, Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22, just months after graduating from the University of Arkansas with an engineering degree. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E first applied for a U.S. passport in Coffman\\\\u2019s name in 1984, submitting his own photograph and current address. He later used the stolen identity to obtain a replacement Social Security card, multiple passports and a New Mexico driver\\\\u2019s license, and to purchase property in Weed, New Mexico. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E continued using Coffman\\\\u2019s identity for decades, including presenting a fraudulent passport to a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division employee in 2019 to renew a driver\\\\u2019s license in Coffman\\\\u2019s name.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUsing Coffman\\\\u2019s identity, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E also fraudulently obtained over $138,000 in Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits beginning in 2015.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe decades-long scheme finally unraveled after \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E presented fraudulent documents to renew his driver\\\\u0027s license at a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department in Cloudcroft in September 2019. Following the renewal, agents from the National Passport Center\\\\u0027s Fraud Prevention Unit discovered Coffman\\\\u0027s 1975 death and alerted federal authorities to the ongoing identity fraud, sparking the joint FBI and Social Security Administration OIG investigation that uncovered \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0027s true identity as a long-time violent fugitive.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 19, 2025, FBI SWAT teams from Albuquerque and El Paso, supported by aerial assets, approached \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s property to execute an arrest warrant and search warrant. Air surveillance observed \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E leave the back of his home and enter the wood line. Wearing camouflage, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E remained in the wooded area despite commands from agents. After flash bangs were deployed and agents issued additional commands, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E emerged and surrendered. A loaded rifle equipped with a scope and a 20-round magazine was recovered from the wood line. A search of the property recovered a total of 57 firearms, along with large quantities of ammunition and firearm magazines.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E pleaded guilty to misuse of a passport, possession of false papers to defraud U.S., aggravated identity theft, and being a fugitive from justice in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;will be subject to three years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECampbell\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the SSA OIG\\\\u0026nbsp;Corwin Rattler made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was co-investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office and the Social Security Administration\\\\u2019s Office of the Inspector General. It was originally initiated by the United States State Department Diplomatic Security Service\\\\u2019s El Paso Resident Office and the National Passport Center\\\\u2019s Fraud Prevention Unit. Enforcement assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, as well as the Otero County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:10:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788531059\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:09:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788530969\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-260\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EStephen Craig Campbell,\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man, was sentenced to 81 months in prison for federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Fugitive Who Stole Dead Man\\\\u2019s Identity Sentenced\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/fugitive-who-stole-dead-mans-identity-sentenced\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1ce5d54b-68db-4300-b795-751400f8d4a7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\\\u2014 Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery man has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea to possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ryan Deleon Johnson, 48, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 106 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Johnson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Johnson\\\\u2019s plea agreement and other court records, on June 13, 2025, agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Johnson, who had outstanding arrest warrants dating back to December 2024. As agents approached the vehicle, Johnson fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the pursuit, Johnson ran numerous stop signs and repeatedly swerved into oncoming traffic, including driving directly towards pursuing patrol vehicles, in an effort to evade capture. Johnson eventually drove onto Interstate 65 North, where he continued driving erratically and struck a patrol vehicle. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the interstate, and came to a stop on the shoulder, where agents took him into custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and marijuana. During his May 11, 2026, plea hearing, Johnson admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute them and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBecause Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:23:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u0022202\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nnt Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:12:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556333\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7134133d-a27a-4c2c-8c45-cdc1da8e9c1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:09:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788552567\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1025\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/florida-men-sentenced-prison-348m-health-care-fraud-scheme-targeting-medicare-beneficiaries\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"81a442e3-3980-457f-a57d-2a4daf8147cd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDALLAS \\\\u2014 United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEduardo Brito Leaton pleaded guilty May 14 to sexual exploitation of a child and to committing that felony offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEduardo Leaton\\\\u2019s actions inflicted profound and lasting harm on a vulnerable child, and today\\\\u2019s lengthy sentence underscores this office\\\\u2019s unwavering commitment to protecting the most innocent among us,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. \\\\u201cIn this district, those who target minors will face the full measure of federal justice. We will use every lawful tool at our disposal to ensure offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPredators who target children, whether across the street or across international borders, will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. \\\\u201cThis 60-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Leaton\\\\u2019s crimes and the unwavering commitment of our HSI special agents, and all our law enforcement partners in the fight to protect children and pursue justice for victims.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on June 15, 2024, Leaton used an internet\\\\u2011connected cellular telephone to induce a 13\\\\u2011year\\\\u2011old minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual media, which were transmitted via the Internet, a means of interstate and foreign commerce. Investigators later traced the communications to Leaton, who was residing at the Dallas Transitional Housing Center. His cellular telephone was seized during a parole\\\\u2011related contact, and a search warrant revealed digital evidence supporting the offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents revealed that Leaton was required to register as a sex offender due to multiple prior convictions, including three Dallas County convictions from 2021 for possession or promotion of child pornography, which require lifetime registration under Texas law, and several convictions from Los Angeles County, California, for sexual offenses involving minors. While under those registration requirements, he committed the June 2024 offense involving the minor victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Reed O\\\\u2019Connor sentenced Leaton to 600 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and 120 months for committing a felony offense against a minor victim while being required to register as a sex offender. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 720 months.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHomeland Security Investigations Dallas; Waterloo, Canada Regional Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Dallas Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade from the Violent Crimes section prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T18:00:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788559252\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:49:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788558565\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and committing that offense while required to register as a sex offender.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dallas man sentenced to 720 months for sexual exploitation of a minor and offenses committed while a registered sex offender\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/dallas-man-sentenced-720-months-sexual-exploitation-minor-and-offenses-committed-while\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b1c0abe5-bc28-4048-bf6d-0798610e81a3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to nearly four years in prison for performing thousands of cosmetic injection procedures using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections and falsely represented herself as a nurse, received more than $1 million in payments from more than 900 clients for these procedures. Defendant owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERebecca Fadanelli, 40, of Stoughton, Mass. was sentenced on Sept. 2, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 46 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Fadanelli was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture each in the amount of $1,001,562.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/med-spa-owner-pleads-guilty-performing-thousands-injections-using-counterfeit-products\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn April 2026,\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E Fadanelli pleaded guilty to four counts of importing merchandise contrary to law, two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug and two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. She was arrested and charged\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/spa-owner-arrested-allegedly-performing-thousands-illegal-counterfeit-injections-clients\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ein November 2024.\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis was not a mistake or a one-time lapse in judgment. Rebecca Fadanelli built a business on deception and repeatedly put profit ahead of the health and safety of the people who trusted her,\\\\u201d said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. \\\\u201cShe lied about being a nurse, injected counterfeit products into hundreds of clients even after federal authorities seized her shipments, searched her businesses and ultimately arrested her. Her victims were left with infections, facial paralysis, vision problems, scars and the lasting fear of not knowing what was injected into their bodies. As cosmetic injections and med spas continue to grow in popularity, this case underscores a serious and growing public health threat: counterfeit products and unlicensed providers can cause devastating harm. Those who knowingly put consumers at risk for profit will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFDA requirements are designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and devices distributed to American consumers. Administering counterfeit products for profit puts consumers at serious risk,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentencing demonstrates that the FDA will continue to hold accountable those who endanger public health.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBeginning in at least March 2021, Fadanelli owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass. Although Fadanelli was an aesthetician who was never licensed to perform injections or otherwise dispense or administer prescription drugs or devices, she offered botulinum toxin and dermal filler injections to clients and falsely represented to clients and employees that she was a licensed nurse. Fadanelli also misrepresented the identity and safety of the substances she was injecting, telling clients that she was using authentic Botox and FDA-approved dermal fillers such as Sculptra, Restylane and Juv\\\\u00e9derm. In reality she was using counterfeit versions of these products, many of which she imported from China and Brazil. There is no record that Fadanelli ever purchased authentic prescription drugs or devices directly from the manufacturers of those FDA-approved products.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBusiness records show that between approximately March 2021 and June 2024 alone, Fadanelli performed more than 2,700 botulinum toxin and dermal filler injection procedures using counterfeit prescription drugs and devices. More than 900 clients paid a combined total of more than $1 million for the procedures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFadanelli continued operating her med spa illegally despite repeated warnings and law enforcement intervention. After federal authorities began seizing international shipments of counterfeit prescription drugs and devices addressed to Fadanelli\\\\u2019s home and business \\\\u2013 and notified her that the products were misbranded and unapproved \\\\u2013 Fadanelli took steps to conceal her continuing activity. Among other things, she directed suppliers to use different delivery addresses and other individuals\\\\u2019 names as recipients in an effort to avoid additional seizures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 28, 2024, during searches at both Skin Beaute locations, products labeled as Botox, Sculptra, Restylane and Juv\\\\u00e9derm that the product manufacturers subsequently identified as counterfeit, were recovered. Bacteriostatic water, used to dilute Botox that laboratory testing found contained methylobacterium, a bacteria that can cause infection, was also found.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFadanelli continued offering and performing injection procedures until her arrest on Nov. 1, 2024. However, in May 2025 while on pretrial release following her arrest, Fadanelli performed an injection procedure at her home using an unknown substance that the client reportedly believed to be Sculptra. Her pretrial release was later revoked, and she has remained in custody since November 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENumerous clients suffered adverse health effects as a result of injections performed by Fadanelli, including severe swelling, infections, drooping or paralysis of the face and eyes, double vision, impaired eyesight and hard lumps or nodules. Multiple clients were hospitalized, and many required follow-up treatment from licensed medical professionals.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor example, one client spent weeks hospitalized after developing severe facial swelling, headaches, weakness and fever-like symptoms following botulinum toxin injections. Another victim was hospitalized for four days after experiencing facial drooping and paralysis, double vision and headaches; another client suffered impaired vision for approximately three months; and a separate client ultimately underwent corrective surgery to remove a hard lump beneath her skin and was left with scarring.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen clients reported adverse reactions, Fadanelli often dismissed their concerns or provided misleading assurances, in some cases falsely claiming that she had used authentic FDA-approved products for the clients\\\\u2019 injection procedures. Fadanelli told some of these clients to return to Skin Beaute for additional treatments.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Foley, FDA-CI SAC McMillan; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Medicaid Fraud Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office and the Stoughton and Randolph Police Departments also provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Sarah Hoefle of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:36:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788536194\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8842e83c-ddc2-4710-b819-99ad3473b01a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Massachusetts\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:31:26-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788532286\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to nearly four years in prison for performing thousands of cosmetic injection procedures using counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. The defendant, who was not licensed to perform injections and falsely represented herself as a nurse, received more than $1 million in payments from more than 900 clients for these procedures. Defendant owned and operated Skin Beaute Med Spa, with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Med Spa Owner Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Performing Thousands of Counterfeit Botox and Filler Injections\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3f6710a-213c-41e6-b11b-3abebf00d2b3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Consumer Protection\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ma\\\\/pr\\\\/med-spa-owner-sentenced-46-months-prison-performing-thousands-counterfeit-botox-and\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"64a7343a-fed6-4878-8064-3790b95ef560\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESuperior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the government\\\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim\\\\u2019s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim\\\\u2019s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim\\\\u2019s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver\\\\u2019s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim\\\\u2019s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims\\\\u2019 belongings, and Pyne drove away.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E2024 CF3 001561\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:35:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550528\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-robber-pleads-guilty-2023-and-2024-crime-spree\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3abebd8d-c866-4a85-bb5f-d724153a8218\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBOSTON \\\\u2013 A Georgian national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly conspiring to launder the proceeds of a $1.3 billion health care fraud scheme while he was illegally in the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EErekle Gugava, 33, a Georgian national, was indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy. Gugava fled the United States in July 2025, after the alleged conduct.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Gugava was a money launderer for the foreign-based organization that spearheaded the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, dubbed Operation Gold Rush. The organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit and steal from Medicare and other health insurers.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in the charging documents, Gugava purportedly owned ND Medical Solutions, LLC (ND Medical), a durable medical equipment company located in Pennsylvania, between February 2025 and July 2025. During the limited five-month span of Gugava\\\\u2019s purported ownership, ND Medical submitted at least $1.3 billion in fraudulent DME claims to Medicare, private health insurance companies that contracted to provide Medicare supplemental insurance policies, private employer-sponsored plans and union health plans. These insurers paid ND Medical approximately $6.5 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the scheme, Gugava allegedly facilitated the deposit and transfer of fraud proceeds. Among other things, he allegedly opened several bank accounts in the name of ND Medical \\\\u2013 for which he was the sole signatory \\\\u2013 and deposited checks from Medicare Supplemental Insurers and other health insurers into the ND Medical bank accounts. The funds were then ultimately transferred to various overseas bank accounts for the benefit of the organization.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged in charging documents, the fraudulent claims relied, in part, on the stolen identities of citizens from Massachusetts, across New England, and throughout the United States to justify the fraudulent billings. Many of these individuals, including elderly and disabled Americans, reported their concerns to Medicare and its contractors after receiving explanation of benefit forms that reflected them purportedly receiving DME that they did not in fact receive, that was purportedly prescribed by doctors whom they had never visited and purportedly delivered from ND Medical\\\\u2014a DME company with which they were unfamiliar.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs further alleged, the organization exploited the United States\\\\u2019 financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources. Medicare and established private insurance carriers, giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460246\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/picture1_1_0.png?itok=4cQheJzk\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022431\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022351\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Banking surveillance image of Gugava on Feb. 24, 2025 related to ND Medical Bank account opening\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460251\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/picture2_1_0.png?itok=9oekeu0h\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022557\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022336\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Banking surveillance image of Gugava on June 9, 2025\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge of mone\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0079 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01XcZwBmnriZ1hXsxiz58LYN

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01XcZwBmnriZ1hXsxiz58LYN", "elapsed": 4.29758127, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":7},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.5406069755554199},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMIAMI \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Two South Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThese fraudsters billed Medicare $34.8 million for braces that patients didn\\\\u2019t need and didn\\\\u2019t request \\\\u2014 and now they\\\\u2019re paying the price,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cThey paid kickbacks for fake doctors\\\\u2019 orders, shuffled billing among several companies to dodge payment suspensions, and pocketed millions that belonged to American taxpayers. Their prison sentences make clear: if you steal from Medicare, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMedicare is not a blank check for fraudsters,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\\\\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida. \\\\u201cThese defendants built a $34.8 million scheme around medically unnecessary braces, fraudulent doctors\\\\u2019 orders, and illegal kickbacks, all to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. Today\\\\u2019s sentences reinforce a simple message: if you steal from our health care programs, we will find you, prosecute you, and hold you accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Kenneth Charles Kessler, III, 43, of Miami, and Michael Andrew Gomez, 43, of Miramar, owned and operated seven durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies based in Florida. Through these DME companies, they submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKessler and Gomez also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain fraudulent signed doctors\\\\u2019 orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor needed the braces, and then claimed payment for those braces from Medicare. Kessler and Gomez used their multiple DME companies to evade Medicare payment suspensions by shifting their fraudulent billing between their DME companies.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKessler profited more than $1.4 million, and Gomez profited more than $2.3 million from the fraudulent scheme.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKessler was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment, and Gomez was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EIn May 2026, Kessler and Gomez each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Qui\\\\u00f1ones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETrial Attorneys Aisha Schafer Hylton and Owen Dunn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe Department of Justice\\\\u2019s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare \\\\u0026amp; Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/criminal-fraud\\\\/health-care-fraud-unit\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;or at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, under case numbers 25-cr-60188.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:50:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788558633\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7134133d-a27a-4c2c-8c45-cdc1da8e9c1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:41:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788558061\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETwo South Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"South Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cce5d791-6b0b-462d-9a42-768179164d43\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Healthcare Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/south-florida-men-sentenced-prison-348m-health-care-fraud-scheme-targeting-medicare\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"92c972e4-b55f-4b21-8503-99ee99623e20\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ECHICAGO \\\\u2014 A federal judge has sentenced a man to 76 years in prison for violently robbing or attempting to rob four banks in downtown Chicago while on supervised release for prior bank robbery convictions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJOSEPH DONELSON, JR., 68, of Chicago, committed four robberies or attempted robberies in a two-month period in 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp; Donelson struck a bank teller in the face in one of the robberies and leapt onto the counter to take money in another one.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe robberies were as follows:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Col\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e8569cdf836aa28dc373dcfb99a051188\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOct. 11, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e1377c465959ab968dde47299c5e0e71b\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ENov. 7, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 180 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e0d86ce34b9c1dabb57407d024e7d6625\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDec. 8, 2023: Robbery of Citibank, 539 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Streeterville neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e63770c28ebca16cac6fa0e3c38a2d304\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDec. 19, 2023: Attempted robbery of Citibank, 100 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ol\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDonelson committed the robberies and attempted robberies while he was on court-supervised release following a period of imprisonment for robbing two other banks in Chicago\\\\u2019s Loop neighborhood in 2007.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460321\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/defendant_donelson_at_bank_counter.jpg?itok=W3QnwfhU\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022772\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022460\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Joseph Donelson at the teller counter during a bank robbery.\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460316\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/defendant_donelson_on_bank_counter.jpg?itok=fCL0H9w4\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022557\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022282\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Joseph Donelson jumped on the counter during a bank robbery.\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EA jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Donelson of the four robberies and attempted robberies from 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp; On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Donelson to 76 years in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe sentence was\\\\u0026nbsp;announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and\\\\u0026nbsp;Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.\\\\u0026nbsp; Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDefendant\\\\u2019s actions terrorized multiple bank employees, causing injury to one and lasting psychological trauma to another,\\\\u201d Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin argued in the government\\\\u2019s sentencing memorandum.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cHis crimes demonstrated utter disrespect for the law, and a severe sentence is necessary as just punishment.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:12:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545566\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f157cfe4-d5d0-4d1a-89c7-48047a07005f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:07:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545241\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460316\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d7b5d865-061d-4d24-86fa-30a24b662890\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Joseph Donelson jumped on the counter during a bank robbery.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460321\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"455dc25d-336d-49b6-837c-753f2ed66594\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Joseph Donelson at the teller counter during a bank robbery.\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJOSEPH DONELSON, JR. committed four robberies or attempted robberies in 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Man Sentenced to 76 Years in Prison for Violently Robbing or Attempting To Rob Four Banks in Chicago While on Parole for Prior Bank Robberies\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndil\\\\/pr\\\\/man-sentenced-76-years-prison-violently-robbing-or-attempting-rob-four-banks-chicago\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"86aa407e-7acb-414f-8e81-dfe54420e8a9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460336\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/isiah_naaquan_weeks.png?itok=PJILHC1m\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022373\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022isiah_naaquan_weeks.png\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERALEIGH, N.C. \\\\u2013 A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man after three days of trial on nine counts for fentanyl and five counts for possessing a firearm stemming from his role directing a major fentanyl\\\\u2011trafficking operation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis thug had a long history of pushing venomous poison and despite being locked up in the past, he immediately went back to his dirty work, orchestrating a violent drug\\\\u2011peddling enterprise from right here in Raleigh, pumping our community full of deadly fentanyl, all while using illegal guns,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. \\\\u201cWorking with a collaboration of men and women from local, state, and federal law enforcement, we dismantled his operation, seized his poison and guns, and removed him off our streets. This verdict delivers a clear message: Drugs destroy lives, and prison awaits\\\\u2014choose the right path.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIsiah Naaquan Weeks ran a drug\\\\u2011trafficking operation that pushed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills from California and Arizona into Eastern North Carolina. He and his crew crisscrossed the country to grab massive loads of fentanyl, shipped those pills into Wake County, and flooded Raleigh with them. Investigators uncovered high\\\\u2011volume deliveries, coordinated communications, and nonstop dealing from 2022 until Weeks\\\\u2019 arrest in 2024. Weeks constantly carried guns to assist his drug dealing and kept selling even as his associates were arrested with thousands of pills. When an associate was caught with one hundred thousand fentanyl pills tied to him, Weeks panicked and googled \\\\u2018Best place to live for Americans in Mexico\\\\u2019 and \\\\u2018no extradition countries\\\\u2019 just days before his arrest.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cHolding a drug dealer accountable for his dangerous and careless crimes sends a powerful message to anyone that threatens our public safety,\\\\u201d said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. \\\\u201cATF and our law enforcement partners will use every resource we have available to pull the plug on violent criminal networks.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Raleigh Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the exceptional public safety partners whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment throughout this case exemplify the very best of collaboration in modern law enforcement. Alongside our officers and detectives, their teamwork, coordination, and shared expertise were instrumental in advancing this investigation and furthering our collective mission to protect and serve our community. We are especially grateful for the strong partnership between the Raleigh Police Department and the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The coordination and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation reflect the shared commitment of local, state, and federal agencies to working together to uphold justice and keep our community safe.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEllis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the jury\\\\u2019s verdict. The ATF, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the IRS \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation and Raleigh Police Department collaborated on this multi-year investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on our\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewebsite\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.nced.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/ShowIndex.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-200-D.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:03:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788548583\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:42:13-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788547333\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460336\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dfac24ed-54ff-48c4-bae8-b54d6d10f6db\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"isiah_naaquan_weeks.png\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Raleigh Drug Ringleader Convicted at Federal Guns and Drugs Trial \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\/pr\\\\/raleigh-drug-ringleader-convicted-federal-guns-and-drugs-trial\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a367cd3f-d9fa-4a5a-9cc5-a3d177554fe9\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;RACHEL CRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ea\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Davenport,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Monjure,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Haygood\\\\u201d (\\\\u201cCRAWFORD\\\\u201d),\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E age 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to plea documents,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was\\\\u0026nbsp;the Chief Financial Officer of an organization that received federal funds. Beginning on or about May 14, 2021, and continuing until or about May 8, 2025,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E CRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E withdrew approximately $162,209.61 in cash from the organization\\\\u2019s checking account for personal use. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E then altered bank statements to conceal her withdrawals. In addition, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E made $9,254.81 of unauthorized purchases for personal items, including airplane tickets and a cosmetic dermatologist, using the organization\\\\u2019s credit card. When interviewed by federal agents, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E admitted to the scheme.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ECRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee is also applicable.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry set sentencing for December 16, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development \\\\u2013 Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:50:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788555023\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T16:33:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788554003\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;RACHEL CRAWFORD\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003Ea\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Davenport,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Monjure,\\\\u201d a\\\\/k\\\\/a \\\\u201cRachel Haygood\\\\u201d (\\\\u201cCRAWFORD\\\\u201d),\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E age 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to\\\\u0026nbsp;Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Ponchatoula Woman Guilty of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/ponchatoula-woman-guilty-theft-organization-receiving-federal-funds\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d8ce33f1-dbde-4463-bb69-f188a3539f79\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBEAUMONT, Texas \\\\u2013 A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoskin Love, 50, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, on March 19, 2025, Love was stopped for a traffic violation.\\\\u0026nbsp; Officers smelled marijuana during the stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; A search was conducted resulting in the discovery of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:05:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788534316\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:59:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533993\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jefferson County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/jefferson-county-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking-violations\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8b1f9476-714e-45cd-a6a2-fb78937c895f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China \\\\u2013 claiming they were Honda airbags \\\\u2013 for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, in August 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago O\\\\u2019Hare International Airport seized 20 counterfeit Honda airbags that were sent from China. The boxes were falsely described as containing \\\\u201cdesktop night lights\\\\u201d and were addressed to Bojorquez at JB Ohio Auto Sale in Galloway.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe same shipper in China sent four similar additional shipments of counterfeit Honda airbags in August 2024, each labeled as \\\\u201cdesktop night lights\\\\u201d or \\\\u201cblue desktop nightlights.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhen law enforcement executed a search warrant at JB Ohio Auto Sale in May 2025, they seized multiple counterfeit airbags, some of which were piled in a clothes hamper and covered by a towel.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBojorquez admitted to intentionally trafficking in at least 44 counterfeit airbags from August 2024 until May 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to ten years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Department of Transportation\\\\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued consumer safety advisories to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit airbags, including consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the airbag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf you own a vehicle purchased from JB Auto Sale with a suspected counterfeit airbag, please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office by calling 888-529-2820.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:29:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528593\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:28:36-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528516\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECOLUMBUS, Ohio \\\\u2013 John Bojorquez, 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking in counterfeit goods by importing counterfeit airbags from China \\\\u2013 claiming they were Honda airbags \\\\u2013 for vehicles he sold at his auto dealership JB Ohio Auto Sale, LLC.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Galloway car dealership owner pleads guilty to importing counterfeit air bags\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdoh\\\\/pr\\\\/galloway-car-dealership-owner-pleads-guilty-importing-counterfeit-air-bags\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dbfe9e47-a478-4ec2-8a49-7761df424bd6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYenkin Majestic Paint Corporation operated a coatings and resin manufacturing facility in Columbus. As part of the resin manufacturing process, Yenkin would heat ingredients in large steel vessels known as \\\\u201ckettles.\\\\u201d In 2020 Yenkin decided to fabricate and install a new door, known as a \\\\u201cmanway\\\\u201d on the top of Kettle 3. Working in conjunction with a local fabrication company, Yenkin installed the new manway in December 2020. Despite several examples of Kettle 3 seeing high pressure spikes, Yenkin never pressure tested the new manway before placing it back in service. Once installed, it immediately began leaking. Nevertheless, Yenkin continued to utilize Kettle #3, opting instead to add a thicker gasket, which Yenkin erroneously believed to be made of Teflon (but was actually silicone).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 8, 2021, Yenkin was in the process of producing a resin in Kettle #3. Unbeknownst to the operator, the agitator inside Kettle 3 had stopped, likely due to electrical work Yenkin was conducting at the time. Around midnight, the operator turned the agitator back on, causing the contents to vaporize and increasing the pressure inside the kettle. Moments later, Kettle 3\\\\u2019s closed manway and gasket could no longer contain the pressure and began to release a mixture of hot resin liquid and flammable solvent vapor into the resin plant and then into adjacent operating areas of the plant.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMultiple flammable gas detectors inside the facility started detecting an increasing concentration of flammable vapors during the release. However, the flammable gas detectors were not configured to sound an audible alarm. At 12:04 a.m., the released flammable vapors found an ignition source and exploded, which led to the death of one employee and severe injuries to several others. The explosion also damaged the resin plant and nearby structures.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen safety protocols aren\\\\u2019t followed, pressurized equipment can cause terrible accidents like the tragedy at Yenkin in 2021,\\\\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). \\\\u201cThe company is pleading guilty to negligent endangerment, because their actions, or inactions, created a manufacturing environment that resulted in death and severe injury. Our hope in highlighting this case is that other manufacturers will vigilantly protect the safety of their workers and properly operate their equipment.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCompanies that use hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to prevent releases that put people in danger of death and serious bodily injury,\\\\u201d said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA\\\\u2019s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. \\\\u201cThe resulting incident caused a tragic loss of life, injuries, and property damage. EPA will continue to hold companies accountable when they put workers and the public at risk by ignoring basic safety and emergency procedures.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cEmployees deserve to be protected from danger in the workplace \\\\u2013 and we will hold companies accountable to that obligation,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. \\\\u201cThis tragic circumstance serves as a stark reminder to all manufacturers that safety requirements must be followed.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCompanies have an obligation to protect their workers,\\\\u201d said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. \\\\u201cYenkin failed to keep its employees safe, and as a result, one person died and several others were injured. This guilty plea provides a measure of accountability for Yenkin\\\\u2019s failures.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis devastating incident underscores the serious consequences of why environmental safeguards and proper operating procedures matter,\\\\u201d said Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue. \\\\u201cOhio EPA remains committed to protecting Ohio\\\\u2019s communities and natural resources and holding regulated facilities accountable for meeting their environmental obligations.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\\\\u2019s Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Attorney General\\\\u2019s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Special Investigations Unit, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESenior Trial Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman for ENRD and the Southern District of Ohio and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Twombly for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:37:24-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788539844\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"034d161d-6ac9-4dff-8362-616a47d3ecb7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Energy and Natural Resources Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"06593b3a-b39b-41d5-b602-b4ef5ec4339c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Ohio, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:38:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788529129\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1019\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Ohio Company Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9fed5344-d0fe-47b4-832e-2f95ea95a8ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Labor \\\\u0026 Employment\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/ohio-company-pleads-guilty-worker-death-case-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b06f532e-0d26-4ed7-8514-c7fbafc1e7a1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kenroy Watt, 50, a native and citizen of Jamaica, was indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Watt illegally reentered the United States without proper authorization and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on December 10, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;Watt was previously removed from the United States through Miami, Florida, on July 28, 2016, after a conviction for an aggravated felony.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:57:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533860\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:56:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533795\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jamaican Citizen Charged With Illegal Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/jamaican-citizen-charged-illegal-reentry\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a592db0c-158b-4866-bc7d-84a5df8286dc\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMONTGOMERY, Ala. \\\\u2014 Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a Montgomery man has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea to possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Ryan Deleon Johnson, 48, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 106 months in federal prison. Following his term of imprisonment, Johnson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to Johnson\\\\u2019s plea agreement and other court records, on June 13, 2025, agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Johnson, who had outstanding arrest warrants dating back to December 2024. As agents approached the vehicle, Johnson fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the pursuit, Johnson ran numerous stop signs and repeatedly swerved into oncoming traffic, including driving directly towards pursuing patrol vehicles, in an effort to evade capture. Johnson eventually drove onto Interstate 65 North, where he continued driving erratically and struck a patrol vehicle. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the interstate, and came to a stop on the shoulder, where agents took him into custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, ammunition, cocaine, and marijuana. During his May 11, 2026, plea hearing, Johnson admitted that he possessed the cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute them and that he knowingly possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBecause Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, federal law prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Levi prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:23:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f57273ab-9d22-4e7a-a564-a71b001aef1d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Alabama, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:20:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788528027\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Montgomery Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdal\\\\/pr\\\\/montgomery-man-sentenced-federal-prison-firearm-and-drug-trafficking-offenses\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22c5aef1-40d8-4853-88b7-c0b4b5121b7a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA \\\\u2013 The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia is proud to share two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cProtecting children in today\\\\u2019s digital world requires vigilance, teamwork, and a shared commitment to their well\\\\u2011being,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. \\\\u201cBy empowering families and communities with clear, practical information, we strengthen our ability to keep every child safe online.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs technology continues to evolve, so do the risks facing our youth. These handouts provide practical guidance to help adults understand online dangers, recognize warning signs, and take proactive steps to keep children safe on smartphones, the internet, and social media platforms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWe encourage schools, community organizations, and families across West Virginia to use these resources and share them widely. By spreading this information, we strengthen our collective ability to protect children and support safe online habits.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETogether, we can help make the digital world a safer place for our most vulnerable.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThank you to all our partners for your continued commitment to child safety.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EView and download the online safety flyers here:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460206\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460206\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460211\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 data-entity-type=\\\\u0022media\\\\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\\\\u0022e64f8124-85e3-420a-abc6-0793f74864cc\\\\u0022 data-entity-substitution=\\\\u0022media_download_inline\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Predators Are Online\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/media\\\\/1460211\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T10:15:40-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788876940\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2a654da-3abd-4317-aec0-c05c193094cf\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - West Virginia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T08:36:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788525362\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460216\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"83023f3f-5342-436d-8135-9e939e424823\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Online Safety Flyer\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460221\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cfcd9531-6534-4f11-b329-5f2b7f0904ec\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Predators are Online Flyer\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia is proud to share two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office Committed to Protecting Children in the Digital Age\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f095f7a4-e602-4206-a249-56971083cb48\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Community Outreach\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndwv\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-committed-protecting-children-digital-age\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"28c42d8c-026a-49b4-ab43-a61a49631f65\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Cordell Simms,\\\\u0026nbsp;32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced\\\\u0026nbsp;yesterday to\\\\u0026nbsp;37\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESimms pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2025, before Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In\\\\u0026nbsp;addition to the\\\\u0026nbsp;37-month sentence, Judge Sullivan ordered Simms to serve\\\\u0026nbsp;three\\\\u0026nbsp;years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on Sept. 10, 2025, about 4:45 p.m. a Metropolitan Police officer responded to a report of a person with a gun in their waistband near 2nd and Farragut Streets NW. The officer canvassed the neighborhood in his marked cruiser and\\\\u0026nbsp;observed\\\\u0026nbsp;a man with a backpack \\\\u2013 later identified as Simms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESimms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The\\\\u0026nbsp;child\\\\u0026nbsp;immediately\\\\u0026nbsp;began walking toward the front door of a nearby home. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack. Simms began to\\\\u0026nbsp;run\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;led police on a lengthy foot chase.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPolice caught and detained Simms and inspected the backpack. Inside the bag police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number that was fitted with a laser sight. The Ruger was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESimms did not have a license to carry a firearm in the\\\\u0026nbsp;District. A criminal history check revealed he had been convicted of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, and was therefore prohibited from\\\\u0026nbsp;possessing\\\\u0026nbsp;a firearm of any sort. At the time of his arrest in this case, Simms also was on supervised release following convictions of simple assault, second degree theft, and two counts of contempt.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the MPD with valuable\\\\u0026nbsp;assistance\\\\u0026nbsp;from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives \\\\u2013 Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;George Eliopoulos\\\\u0026nbsp;of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460286\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/simms1.png?itok=3oglUP0P\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022571\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022560\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ESimms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460291\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/simms2.png?itok=ktlRffXk\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022560\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022674\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EInside\\\\u0026nbsp;Simms\\\\u2019\\\\u0026nbsp;bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E25cr321\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollow us on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/twitter.com\\\\/USAO_DC\\\\u0022\\\\u003EX\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.instagram.com\\\\/usao_dc\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EInstagram\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, and \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.youtube.com\\\\/@usao_dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003EYouTube\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOr at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:21:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788538912\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:16:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788538599\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460286\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"daccc940-c06b-49c2-9e64-cf30780ce58d\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Simms spotted the police officer and handed his backpack to a minor child. The officer intercepted the child and told her to drop the backpack\\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460291\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4c765593-2be2-4262-b481-8f901e24b904\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Inside Simms\\\\u2019 bag, police recovered a Ruger SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was fitted with a laser sight. \\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECordell Simms,\\\\u0026nbsp;32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced\\\\u0026nbsp;yesterday to\\\\u0026nbsp;37\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison for carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in a backpack while he was serving a period of supervised release and prohibited from possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/felon-sentenced-37-months-federal-prison-illegal-firearm-possession\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fc6a3967-f210-4242-ac27-52229ba56610\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Mexican national, Carlos Erick Vazquez Gonzalez, 48, pleaded guilty today for his role in the laundering of approximately $4 million in drug trafficking proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Vazquez Gonzalez worked with \\\\u201cmoney brokers\\\\u201d who arranged for the collection of drug profits in cities throughout the United States, which he then laundered and returned through cryptocurrency to Mexico. Vazquez Gonzalez accepted the deposit of approximately $4 million of these narcotic proceeds into a cryptocurrency wallet that he controlled. Vazquez Gonzalez then quickly moved the money to conceal or obfuscate its origins. He also sold the cryptocurrency for U.S. dollars in Mexico and returned the bulk cash to the \\\\u201cmoney broker\\\\u201d who arranged the pick-up of drug proceeds in the United States. Vazquez Gonzalez received an estimated $40,000 in commission for his participation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVazquez Gonzalez pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe DEA Lexington Resident Office investigated the case, working closely with the Detroit Field Division and Rocky Mountain Field Division and assisted by DEA offices in Mexico, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Baltimore, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Portland, Columbia, and Rapid City, with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDeputy Chief Elizabeth R. Rabe of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Deputy Chief Todd Bradbury for the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMNF\\\\u2019s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMNF\\\\u2019s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is\\\\u0026nbsp;also\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.whitehouse.gov\\\\/presidential-actions\\\\/2025\\\\/01\\\\/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EExecutive Order 14159\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:20:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788549652\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:31:01-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546661\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1024\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Mexican national, Carlos Erick Vazquez Gonzalez, 48, pleaded guilty today for his role in the laundering of approximately $4 million in drug trafficking proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $4M in Drug Trafficking Proceeds\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-laundering-more-19m-drug-trafficking-proceeds\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"471a4fc1-1b71-4ed2-8338-40ea2bb9c1cd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECameron Duane Haworth, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Haworth was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Haworth\\\\u2019s home on Aug. 13, 2025, agents found six firearms with ammunition. In an interview following the search, Haworth admitted to law enforcement that he knew the guns were there.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:15:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556527\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:13:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556396\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-213\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Dillon man who unlawfully kept a cache of firearms in his home was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Dillon man sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully possessing firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/dillon-man-sentenced-18-months-unlawfully-possessing-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5ef9ed54-dd8a-45f8-9d48-7b8b62b04140\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cConvicted felons with violent histories who are caught illegally possessing firearms will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney William R. \\\\u201cWill\\\\u201d Keyes. \\\\u0022I appreciate the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring repeat offenders to justice and keep our communities safe.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe Butts County Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office is grateful to the United States Attorney\\\\u0027s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, and United States Attorney William Keyes, for their partnership and commitment to prosecuting violent offenders,\\\\u201d said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. \\\\u201cThrough continued collaboration with our federal partners, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure violent criminals are held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELa\\\\u0027Qyale Emmanuel Fortson, 35, of Riverdale, Georgia, and of Butts County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 3, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on May 19. There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements in court, a deputy with the Butts County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office stopped Fortson\\\\u2019s vehicle for following a tractor-trailer too closely on Interstate 75. The deputy approached the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana when Fortson rolled down his window. Fortson denied the odor and advised he did not smoke marijuana. The deputy deployed a narcotics detection dog who performed a free air sniff of the vehicle. After the dog showed odor responses in two areas, the deputy advised he would be searching the vehicle. Fortson then admitted that he had marijuana in the center console. The search yielded a small quantity of suspected marijuana in the center console; an open tequila bottle behind the passenger seat; and an unloaded Glock pistol underneath the driver\\\\u2019s seat. The pistol was confirmed as stolen out of East Point, Georgia, and he said he purchased it from one of his \\\\u201cweed buddies.\\\\u201d Fortson admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he was a convicted felon. Fortson has a lengthy criminal history, to include prior convictions for aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, and battery.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Butts County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECriminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:20:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546030\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73077dc7-8e36-43bf-8b75-967889048468\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:18:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545885\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMACON, Ga. \\\\u2013 A metro Atlanta resident with a lengthy criminal past, including aggravated assault and obstructing a police officer, was sentenced to serve more than eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in the Middle District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Atlanta Man with Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdga\\\\/pr\\\\/atlanta-man-criminal-past-sentenced-illegally-possessing-firearm\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6fb47c48-0f2b-44ad-b0c4-428555648781\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHATTANOOGA, Tenn. \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp; On September 3, 2026, Michael Ray Buckley, 34, currently of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.\\\\u0026nbsp; Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Buckley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of exploitation of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 2251(a) and (e).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court filed documents, Buckley admitted that\\\\u0026nbsp;through his Instagram account of \\\\u201ccandy_cams,\\\\u201d and other social media accounts using the internet, he solicited and recruited minor females to produce child pornography, paying the minors for produced images and videos through CashApp, and distributing child pornography to buyers online.\\\\u0026nbsp; To facilitate his communications with minor victims, Buckley falsely represented his identity, age (11-13), and gender.\\\\u0026nbsp; By exploiting these false identities, Buckley persuaded and induced the minor victims to create and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.\\\\u0026nbsp; Buckley\\\\u2019s conduct reflected a deliberate and sustained pattern of predatory behavior directed toward children, intended to manipulate and entice minor victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and producing sexually explicit images for his personal financial gain and sexual gratification of his clients.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU. S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Terrence G. Riley, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office, and the Hamilton County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp; This investigation was led by FBI Chattanooga Resident Agency Special Agent Samuel K. Moore.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecial Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about PSC, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about internet safety education, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\/resources.html\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E and click the tab \\\\u0022resources.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; ###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T11:20:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788535230\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3601535d-4e8a-4029-a9aa-12d40fdbfa41\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T06:55:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788519356\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Chattanooga Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Exploitation Of A Minor\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtn\\\\/pr\\\\/chattanooga-man-sentenced-25-years-exploitation-minor\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0dfd75c5-cf1a-47fa-9983-12667c90c25d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHOENIX, Ariz. \\\\u2013 During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 128 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 124 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 13 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\u2019s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERecent matters of interest include:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Andrew Lee Esquivel.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E On August 29, 2026, Andrew Lee Esquivel was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On August 28, 2026, a Pinal County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trax on I-10. As the deputy approached the Trax, he saw the passenger lying on the floorboard of the car. The car also contained a camouflage backpack, camouflage clothing, and carpet shoes in the back seat. When the deputy returned to his vehicle, the passenger fled on foot and ran across both lanes of traffic. The passenger was located 2 hours later, several miles away from the original stop. Border Patrol agents confirmed the passenger is a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [26-MJ-6362]\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUnited States v. Julian Beltran-Montoya.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E On September 3, 2026, Julian Beltran-Montoya, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Beltran-Montoya had been previously removed from the United States in 2020. In 2012, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming. Beltran-Montoya was sentenced to 120 in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release in that case. [26-MJ-3322]\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EA criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERELEASE NUMBER:\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003EFor more information on the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, District of Arizona, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/az\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao\\\\/az\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EFollow the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/twitter.com\\\\/USAO_AZ\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E@USAO_AZ\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E for the latest news.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:47:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788551255\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d139d6e1-c7f0-481e-8385-3a94932f1a53\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Arizona\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:27:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550072\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"2026-152_September 4, 2026 Immigration Enforcement \\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPHOENIX, Ariz. \\\\u2013 During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 29 through Sep. 4, 2026, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 265 individuals.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"District of Arizona Charges 265 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-az\\\\/pr\\\\/district-arizona-charges-265-individuals-immigration-related-criminal-conduct-week\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2de7da0c-4701-4400-bd7a-d77d9f26ae76\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cGRZELKA\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eage 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and\\\\/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, beginning at an unknown time and until on or about July 31, 2025,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E received, and attempted to receive, images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u2019s\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E home was searched by state law enforcement officials and federal agents on July 31, 2025. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was arrested during the execution of the search warrant by agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, after finding him in possession of electronic devices and media containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Through a partnership between state and federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office adopted the state charges and is now prosecuting \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E in federal court. \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EGRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E is currently being held without bail in federal custody.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices and the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E*\\\\u0026nbsp; *\\\\u0026nbsp; *\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:25:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788557139\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T17:20:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788556851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJAKE ALEXANDER GRZELKA\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cGRZELKA\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eage 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 3, 2026, to Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New Orleans Man Guilty of Receiving Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/new-orleans-man-guilty-receiving-materials-involving-sexual-exploitation-minors\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"642308f7-423f-48cc-ba0e-d75b44f76bdf\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESuperior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the government\\\\u2019s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim\\\\u2019s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim\\\\u2019s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim\\\\u2019s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver\\\\u2019s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim\\\\u2019s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims\\\\u2019 belongings, and Pyne drove away.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E2024 CF3 001561\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:38:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T15:35:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788550528\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime Spree\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/armed-robber-pleads-guilty-2023-and-2024-crime-spree\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3abebd8d-c866-4a85-bb5f-d724153a8218\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBANGOR, Maine:\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Brazilian national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to reentering the United States after a prior removal.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on August 15, 2026, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Franklin County observed a car registered to an alien who had been ordered to be removed from the United States. During a subsequent roadside immigration inspection, agents determined that the car\\\\u2019s three occupants were, in fact, illegal aliens without lawful authority to be in the country. They were transported for processing to the Rangeley Border Patrol Station, where agents determined that \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJose Carlos Ferreira\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 50, had been ordered removed in 2005, and subsequently removed from the U.S. twice in 2010.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFerreira faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E: This case is part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:20:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7eb5d47c-fc6f-4914-9897-1dcc1e477646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Maine\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:16:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545814\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJose Carlos Ferreira had been ordered removed in 2005, and subsequently removed from the U.S. twice in 2010.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien from Brazil Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-me\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-brazil-pleads-guilty-illegally-reentering-us-after-prior-removal\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"251a182a-aace-455a-8179-73e2cdb27dc2\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 Two Bozeman men w\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\n Mexican national, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty today in El Paso, Texas, to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. According to court documents, Davalos-Lopez conspired with others to smuggle migrants through an underground tunnel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant demonstrated a total disregard for our nation\\\\u2019s laws by conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States through a tunnel that ran from Mexico under the U.S. border into Texas,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\\\u201cThis shows that smugglers will stop at nothing to move illegal aliens into the United States for profit. The Department of Justice is sending a clear message that those who undermine the integrity of our borders will be investigated and prosecuted.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe defendants in this case were key figures in a criminal enterprise that has had a heavy, detrimental impact on both sides of the border, smuggling drugs and illegal aliens into the U.S. while also trafficking firearms into Mexico, firearms which were then used to further facilitate the movement of drugs and illegal aliens into this country,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. \\\\u201cThe convictions secured in this case are just another nail in the coffin for these transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations. With the full force of the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Alpha behind us, we will accomplish our mission of eradicating these groups and ending their reign of terror.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDavalos-Lopez and his co-conspirators thought they could exploit the United States southern border utilizing a secret tunnel which was constructed by the foreign terrorist organization, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion to facilitate their illegal activities in smuggling of humans, drugs, and firearms,\\\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge Coult W. Markovsky of the FBI El Paso Field Office. \\\\u201cThe discovery of this tunnel and the subsequent convictions related to those who were part of this operation underscores the FBI\\\\u2019s and our partners\\\\u2019 never-ending commitment to dismantle trafficking by the foreign terrorist organization, CJNG.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cCriminals who traffic human beings and firearms are exactly the individuals ATF works every day to stop,\\\\u201d said ATF Director Rob Cekada. \\\\u201cOur focus is squarely on violent offenders and the criminal networks that threaten public safety. If you fuel cartel violence or exploit our communities, we will find you and hold you accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea reflects the relentless work of law enforcement to dismantle foreign terrorist organizations like CJNG,\\\\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Robert \\\\u201cEric\\\\u201d Casta\\\\u00f1eda of the DEA\\\\u2019s El Paso Division. \\\\u201cNo matter the concealment tactics, smuggling methods, or illicit finance networks used, DEA will track down those responsible and ensure they face justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMembers of foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, pose a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities and our nation,\\\\u201d said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. \\\\u201cExploiting vulnerable individuals for profit while facilitating movement of weapons, drugs or resources to terrorist organizations will not be tolerated. HSI will aggressively pursue those who enable these criminal networks and hold them accountable for the grave consequences of their actions. There is no place in our communities for individuals who profit from human suffering or knowingly strengthen terrorist organizations.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460311\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/davalos_lopez_image1.png?itok=-V9xZpCY\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022625\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022511\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Photo of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Photo of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EPhoto of tunnel discovered between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 2025, federal law enforcement located a sophisticated tunnel between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Intercepted phone calls between Davalos-Lopez and other individuals revealed conversations regarding the smuggling of aliens through the tunnel and included references to charging aliens upwards of $30,000 to utilize the tunnel for purposes of entering the United States unlawfully and without inspection. In several of these intercepted phone calls, Davalos-Lopez specifically referred to a tunnel that exists between Juarez and El Paso and discussed how many migrants cross through the tunnel and how much is charged to use the tunnel. Davalos-Lopez and his co-defendants were \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-and-alleged-alien-smuggler-indicted-first-material-support-terrorism\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E in April 2025. The Government of Mexico, pursuant to its National Security Law, subsequently transferred Davalos-Lopez to the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavalos-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Davalos-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDavalos-Lopez\\\\u2019s co-defendant, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 40, of Mexico, previously pleaded \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/two-mexican-nationals-plead-guilty-alien-smuggling-and-providing-material-support-designated\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eguilty\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E on Aug. 27 to conspiring with others to provide material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generaci\\\\u00f3n (CJNG) by trafficking firearms from the United States to Mexico, for the express purpose of delivering those firearms to members of CJNG. Gustavo Castro-Medina, 29, of Mexico, also previously pleaded guilty to serving as an intermediary to facilitate the interstate and foreign transfer of $3,000 in U.S. currency via wire to an undercover agent to purchase firearms for subsequent unlawful transport.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, investigated the case. ATF legal attach\\\\u00e9s in Mexico City and Mexico\\\\u2019s Fiscal\\\\u00eda General de la Rep\\\\u00fablica Organized Crime Unit (FGR-FEMDO) provided substantial assistance. HSI\\\\u2019s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and CBP\\\\u2019s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force also provided assistance with the investigation. The Justice Department\\\\u2019s (DOJ) Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory McDonald for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the DOJ\\\\u2019s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA\\\\u2019s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELed by the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA\\\\u2019s work has resulted in more than 482 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and\\\\/or trafficking; more than 433 U.S. convictions; and more than 369 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.whitehouse.gov\\\\/presidential-actions\\\\/2025\\\\/01\\\\/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EExecutive Order 14159\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:14:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788545652\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"48a4c599-c2d1-4070-95dd-1f211453b3ad\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"63d3c966-8bdb-458a-a9b0-8030376e8d1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9cf9b5a8-4033-4fa9-9451-c39e70b0f2bc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Office of International Affairs\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T13:52:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788544377\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1023\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Mexican national, Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty today in El Paso, Texas, to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States. According to court documents, Davalos-Lopez conspired with others to smuggle migrants through an underground tunnel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Conspiracy Using an Underground Tunnel\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"793286c3-9f64-4b36-97a7-8af5e54fcfe5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Joint Task Force Alpha\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-alien-smuggling-conspiracy-using-underground-tunnel\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1e45b1d6-241d-4e76-b602-0f6ea6e5858c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFort Myers, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Kyle Dudek to\\\\u0026nbsp;19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Hunter was distributing fentanyl in Moore Haven and Clewiston. Between January 6 and February 5, 2026, an undercover agent purchased a total of 139 grams of fentanyl from Hunter in Moore Haven. On March 26, 2026, the DEA executed an arrest warrant on Hunter and located an additional 81.4 grams of fentanyl in his possession.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHunter was sentenced as a career offender due to his two prior federal drug trafficking convictions. At the time of arrest, Hunter was under supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime out of the Western District of Virginia (5:14-cr-02) for which he previously served 10 years in federal prison. He also had a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base out of the Middle District of Florida (5:00-cr-38) for which he served 13 years in federal prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Hendry County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:59:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533987\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T10:58:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788533925\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFort Myers, Florida \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Johnny Lewis Hunter (53, Clewiston) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Kyle Dudek to\\\\u0026nbsp;19 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2026. United States Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Clewiston Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/clewiston-career-offender-sentenced-more-19-years-federal-prison-distributing-fentanyl\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4838c5c8-f178-4501-b2a1-74e8f561bc41\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG- The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Katya Rodriguez, 30, from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Rodriguez illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election.\\\\u0026nbsp;Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,\\\\u201d said Attorney General Todd Blanche. \\\\u201cIt is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes. Illegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThis office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation\\\\u2019s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,\\\\u201d said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). \\\\u201cThe American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 11 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:39:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788547188\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T14:36:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788546963\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788523200\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien From Mexico Charged With Alien Voting\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-mexico-charged-alien-voting\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3062a3db-87d9-4a8e-b281-37a2e0c7862c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN DIEGO \\\\u2013Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and his wife, Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, Mexican nationals who entered the U.S. on tourist visas, were sentenced to 27 months and 10 months in custody, respectively, for\\\\u0026nbsp; participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently sell homes they did not own and launder approximately $1 million in proceeds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the June plea agreement, conspirators posed as legitimate property owners and used fraudulent documents to sell real estate they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. They then routed the proceeds from the illegal sales through bank accounts controlled by the defendants.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cIt is difficult to imagine a more brazen betrayal of trust than pretending to own someone else\\\\u2019s home and selling it for your own gain,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cReal estate fraud and money laundering schemes like this can devastate victims and undermine confidence in legitimate financial transactions,\\\\u201d said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. \\\\u201cHSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify transnational criminal networks, follow the money, and hold accountable those who exploit our financial systems for personal profit.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis sentencing sends a clear message: Those who engage in fraud will be held accountable,\\\\u201d said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. \\\\u201cThe defendants employed sophisticated tactics to exploit the trust of innocent real estate buyers and undermine the integrity of our financial system. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to following the money, uncovering the truth, and collaborating with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and ensure justice is served.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the plea agreement, to carry out the scheme, the defendants\\\\u2019 co-conspirators created email addresses that closely resembled those of the legitimate property owners and used them to market properties they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. By conducting transactions entirely through email, they avoided meeting buyers in person and concealed their identities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOnce a sale was arranged, the defendants\\\\u2019 co-conspirators used forged property transfer documents that falsely appeared to bear the property owner\\\\u2019s signature, allowing ownership of the property to be fraudulently transferred to the unwitting buyer. Villalobos and Montoya admitted they opened bank accounts using business names similar to those of the legitimate property owners and used those accounts to receive the illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sales before transferring the money abroad.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESpecifically, Villalobos and Montoya admitted they lied to open bank accounts to facilitate the illegal sales of homes at 3873 36th Street and 555 Hollister Street in San Diego. The plea agreement said the defendants received:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ebe2d20d0d1891c5e4694659f267011db\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$400,748 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 3873 36th Street. In April 2023, Montoya transmitted nearly the entire amount of money to bank accounts in Mexico.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e25a0fa35e6bd12d0bfffc33de0ccdc6e\\\\u0022\\\\u003E$561,463 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 555 Hollister Street. Upon receipt, Villalobos withdrew all the money by international wire transfers to accounts in Mexico and Jordan, and in cash withdrawals.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EDEFENDANTS\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Case Number 25-CR-4686-DMS\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVictor Hugo Villalobos Almazan\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 48\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Mexico\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ENayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; Age: 48\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0082 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01Sz6HurWGPkPARkjraagBmY

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01Sz6HurWGPkPARkjraagBmY", "elapsed": 4.416682926, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":8},\\\"executionTime\\\":2.441795825958252},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder Maryland\\\\u2019s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRelocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Civil Rights Division. \\\\u201cIf a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration\\\\u2019s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information about the Department\\\\u2019s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.servicemembers.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.servicemembers.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EServicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\/\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener\\\\u0022\\\\u003Elegalassistance.law.af.mil\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:50:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461402\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"da7df438-b3e4-4b73-9250-9974ae754efc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights Division\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:52:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457937\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1016\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Justice Department has issued a \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/servicemembers\\\\/media\\\\/1460176\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eletter\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5e295118-6b91-4f95-a8d1-4044b5c2a0b2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Servicemembers Initiative\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"62c17bd6-c911-4dd2-bb4d-53b5e9880759\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Civil Rights\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/justice-department-seeks-relief-maryland-military-families-illegal-fees\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fbb8373d-8c85-4fe2-8149-8addc7e11650\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E On September 1, 2026,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDEVON FRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cFRITH\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis is the second federal conviction for carjacking the United States government has obtained from\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence presented at trial showed that on June 4, 2022, on the Westbank of New Orleans,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E brandished a firearm and stole a motor scooter. Approximately ten months later, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E brandished a weapon and stole a motor vehicle from another victim.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E later pleaded guilty to the second carjacking.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Ewas convicted in Count 1 for carjacking, in violation of 18\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a72119(1). At sentencing for Count 1, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efaces up to 15 years in jail. Count 2 was using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18\\\\u0026nbsp;U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). At sentencing for Count 2, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EFRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E faces a mandatory minimum 7 years, up to life in prison, which must be run consecutive to Count 1.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Trummel and David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;***\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T21:43:57-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788486237\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8c990021-9ac2-41d5-b152-d00cd767abd9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T21:33:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788485590\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ENEW ORLEANS, LA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E On September 1, 2026,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EDEVON FRITH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E(\\\\u201cFRITH\\\\u201d)\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jury Convicts Orleans Parish Man of Brandishing a Firearm During a Carjacking \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edla\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-convicts-orleans-parish-man-brandishing-firearm-during-carjacking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6864fbf0-a3dd-41f0-a240-a1a530bb5563\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECardenas Portugal\\\\u2019s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal\\\\u2019s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. \\\\u0026nbsp;HSTF\\\\u0026nbsp;Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nebraska.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:18:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473896\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a2b7f0f-5c64-4686-a268-8c05a4865227\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nebraska\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:15:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473750\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jury Convicts Omaha Man for Distributing Methamphetamine\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ne\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-convicts-omaha-man-distributing-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"599b6f6e-ad09-40f5-853b-09c8bd9e6b3b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBILLINGS \\\\u2013 A Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJamie Lynn Strosky, 46, pleaded guilty in February 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Strosky was trafficking meth in Billings as part of the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/billings-man-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-0\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERay Best drug trafficking ring\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E. Fellow traffickers had identified Strosky in interviews, leading law enforcement to place surveillance on Strosky\\\\u2019s residence in January 2025. For a week they saw other traffickers come and go from the house. During the same time, an additional source identified Strosky as the person supplying their methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUsing a warrant, law enforcement searched Strosky\\\\u2019s home on Jan. 22, 2025, and found methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and a scale.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, represented by AUSA Thomas Godfrey, prosecuted the case. The DEA, EMHIDTA, Billings Police Department, and Montana DCI conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:19:56-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473996\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:13:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788473610\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-232\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Billings woman sentenced to more than 10 years for trafficking meth\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/billings-woman-sentenced-more-10-years-trafficking-meth\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"029e4ece-43df-43b4-b4ac-d93db4b34972\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETOPEKA, KAN \\\\u2013 Two Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting. Jackpotting involves installing malware into an ATM to force it to dispense money.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Luinder Daniel Cordova-Castellano, 20, and Jheison Alexander Lara-Sira, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of bank larceny.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEach defendant was sentenced to time served, but as part of their plea agreements, they waived their ability to contest should an immigration judge issue a final order of removal in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn December 2025, Pottawatomie County Sheriff\\\\u2019s deputies responded to a call about suspicious activity at a bank in Manhattan. After driving up to an ATM, a witness reported seeing a man run away from the ATM then flee in a dark colored Toyota Prius. Deputies spotted the vehicle and followed it to a business where they approached the occupants, Cordova-Castellano and Lara-Sira.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe smell of marijuana gave deputies probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside of a backpack, law enforcement found approximately $15,000 in cash. Deputies located a laptop, keyboard, cables, tools, and a wireless hotspot in the vehicle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhile executing a search warrant on Cordova-Castellano\\\\u2019s cellphone, law enforcement found chat conversations in Spanish about ATMs and photos of ATMs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u2019s Criminal Division doesn\\\\u2019t directly take part in deportation hearings. However, when we are prosecuting non-citizens for federal criminal offenses, we are cognizant of when their conduct merits prompt removal from our country, saving the taxpayer the cost of incarceration,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. \\\\u201cBy offering plea agreements that include restrictions on appealing removal orders, we are helping to expedite the process of extracting convicted felons from within our borders and minimizing the expense of their prison stay.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Pottawatomie County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:58:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454682\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c8308b31-5792-42cf-9366-54c531eb1646\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kansas\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:49:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788454174\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETwo Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Venezuelans convicted of jackpotting a Kansas ATM face deportation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ks\\\\/pr\\\\/venezuelans-convicted-jackpotting-kansas-atm-face-deportation\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d62f6c78-80b6-4c5a-b02e-2a6df8950e2f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EZachary Velling, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 12, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling\\\\u2019s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang\\\\/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJudge Hornak scheduled Velling\\\\u2019s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County Police Department, and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Velling.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:56:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788443791\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a088f3cb-1170-4928-a30b-949451b841c9\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:54:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788443684\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"West Virginia Man Who Attempted to Carry Flashbang Grenade Onto Plane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered Firearm\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/west-virginia-man-who-attempted-carry-flashbang-grenade-plane-pleads-guilty-possessing\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"db4c9469-1123-49a8-a01b-5568ea591b08\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart\\\\u2019s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI\\\\u2019s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:27:32-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474452\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:23:38-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788474218\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-230\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/big-timber-man-sentenced-12-years-trafficking-meth\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3a720b4e-0d1a-4aea-82c2-fc4a1ce566e6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Navarro Diaz was the head of an organization in Colombia that transported cocaine and marijuana from the Pacific coast of Colombia to Costa Rica. Over a two-year period, Panamanian, Colombian, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities interdicted four of his organization\\\\u2019s vessels. The investigation revealed that Navarro Diaz discussed the smuggling operations in heavily coded language and had talked about the seizures in coded language after three of the events. The cocaine was intended to be smuggled from Costa Rica through Central America and Mexico prior to importation into the United States. Navarro Diaz was previously convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and pleaded guilty to that offense in 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Colombian National Police. The Justice Department\\\\u2019s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attach\\\\u00e9 Office in Bogot\\\\u00e1 worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and September 2024 extradition from Colombia of Navarro Diaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:53:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461605\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:52:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461529\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Celso Navarro Diaz (65, Colombia) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge\\\\u0026nbsp;Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 years in federal prison for\\\\u0026nbsp;conspiring to traffic more than five kilograms of cocaine on vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. A federal jury found\\\\u0026nbsp;Navarro Diaz guilty on January 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force Yields 30 Year Prison Sentence for Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Leader \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/homeland-security-task-force-yields-30-year-prison-sentence-colombian-drug-trafficking\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"10622a9c-12d0-47cb-aea8-5ff1dd12c949\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECONCORD \\\\u2013 Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/media\\\\/1460166\\\\/dl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eindicted\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).\\\\u0026nbsp;Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years.\\\\u0026nbsp; Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe details contained in the charging documents are allegations.\\\\u0026nbsp; The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department.\\\\u0026nbsp; This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.\\\\u0026nbsp; In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by the U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the DOJ\\\\u2019s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.projectsafechildhood.gov\\\\/\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:09:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458971\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c3a0801f-a565-480b-93fa-8ef735eb82cc\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Hampshire\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"66526b85-ba4d-468f-bac6-17184c418e1a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"U.S. Marshals Service\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:06:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788458799\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nh\\\\/pr\\\\/hampton-man-indicted-failing-register-sex-offender\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9d8a2f18-3ec1-465b-956d-ba349d0f76b1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cAs alleged, this group of fraudsters participated in a $57 million tax fraud scheme, filing over 100 fictitious instruments and ultimately receiving more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars from the IRS,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cThe Fraud Division will continue working vigorously to investigate and prosecute tax fraud schemes like these across the country. Fraudsters should never be allowed to rip off the United States of America.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the superseding indictment, from 2023 through 2024, Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, Monika Skinger of Chicago, Illinois, Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Saule Moshkanova of Roseville, California, Tiffany Nichols of Suwanee, Georgia, and Stacey Rice of Manteca, California, along with unindicted conspirators, allegedly conspired to commit wire fraud by assisting one another in fraudulently claiming refunds in amounts totaling more than $57 million by preparing and submitting false individual and trust tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. The conspirators allegedly received more than $8 million from the IRS. Moshkanova, Nichols, and Rice were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAndrea and Kent Shannon, Skinger and Chandler were previously \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/idaho-husband-and-wife-and-three-others-charged-conspiracy-commit-wire-fraud-and-related\\\\u0022\\\\u003Echarged\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea and Kent Shannon were also charged with committing multiple acts of wire fraud, making false claims to the United States and engaging in money laundering by purchasing personal property such as luxury cars with their fraudulently obtained refunds.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, the conspirators face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Andrea and Kent Shannon face an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each false claim charge. Kent Shannon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T12:37:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788539851\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"82adcbda-83a7-4aee-8a37-9f205426bb18\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Idaho\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:10:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788462617\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1018\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"704d175e-07cd-47bf-b003-8f899dbd5426\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERALEIGH, N.C. \\\\u2013 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina took part in its first H.O.P.E. outreach event in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle took the recommendation of the dedicated victim\\\\u2019s advocates to update the H.E.A.T. program to the \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EH\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Eealing \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EO\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epioid \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EP\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Erevention \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Education (H.O.P.E.) program. H.O.P.E. focuses on reducing the harm heroin and opiate abuse inflicted on North Carolina families by increasing community awareness of the epidemic.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460126\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/hope_evenrt.jpg?itok=6VsZjJ1K\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022205\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022273\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022hope_evenrt.jpg\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the event, staff from the Eastern District actively engaged with the public to explain how heroin and opiate abuse continue to harm North Carolina families and communities. They spoke with attendees about the severity of the epidemic, shared firsthand knowledge from their work across the district, and emphasized the importance of community awareness and prevention. In addition to these conversations, staff members distributed valuable resources, connected individuals with supportive services, and offered guidance to those seeking help for themselves or loved ones. Their efforts ensured that community members left the event better informed, better equipped, and more empowered to confront the challenges posed by opioid abuse.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office remains committed to supporting families and communities affected by opioids and individuals seeking treatment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor more information or assistance with the H.O.P.E. Program, please contact our office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:24:28-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788449068\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d80e5ea7-90b3-4607-8495-a16ee5a2f772\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:12:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788448325\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460126\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99b74c0f-bb31-4699-8689-1027dbaff76b\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"hope_evenrt.jpg\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"\\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office Participates in its First H.O.P.E. Event\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ednc\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-participates-its-first-hope-event\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5da4fc7c-baed-4880-bfb3-5c5bc4a91bf4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDALLAS \\\\u2014 The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office\\\\u2019s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative\\\\u2014bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as \\\\u201ca championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis hiring surge has stretched across the entire district, with prosecutors added in Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock and Wichita Falls, strengthening federal enforcement capacity in every corner of the Northern District of Texas. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment: the Dallas\\\\u2013Fort Worth metroplex is on pace to soon become the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, reflecting rapid population growth, increased economic activity and the corresponding rise in complex criminal threats.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cWhen I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Raybould. \\\\u201cWe set out to hire the best of the best\\\\u2014no matter where they were, no matter their background, no matter the competition\\\\u2014and bring them to North Texas to serve the public. Like a general manager building a professional sports franchise, we sought out top talent with proven grit, skill, and integrity. Today, that vision has become reality.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe surge of new prosecutors reflects a strategic effort to strengthen all aspects of federal enforcement, from violent crime and drug trafficking to financial fraud and corporate misconduct, cyber intrusion, national security threats, civil enforcement, and appellate advocacy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe office has drawn from a deep talent pool, recruiting experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, trial attorneys with complex litigation backgrounds, subject matter experts, and lawyers from the country\\\\u2019s leading private law firms. The new prosecutors are graduates of leading law schools across the country including the University of Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Pepperdine, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Tulane, Texas A\\\\u0026amp;M, Case Western Reserve, Loyola Chicago, George Washington University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and other nationally recognized institutions. Several are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of these hires relocated to Dallas specifically for the opportunity to serve in the Northern District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cNorth Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,\\\\u201d the U.S. Attorney continued. \\\\u201cTo meet those challenges, we invested aggressively in people, the most important asset any office has. The attorneys joining our ranks bring exceptional courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to justice. Together, we are elevating the strength and capacity of this office so that we can protect the almost 9 million folks in North Texas.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:43:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457400\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"8df05d6d-6610-4258-9c93-cf09539e3683\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:41:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457276\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office\\\\u2019s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative\\\\u2014bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as \\\\u201ca championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Texas surpasses 100 prosecutors, marking historic staffing milestone\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndtx\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-northern-district-texas-surpasses-100-prosecutors-marking-historic\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"3f34467f-3fab-4e98-8c1e-1ca071aa2e15\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS.\\\\u0026nbsp;The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi\\\\u2019s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi,\\\\u0026nbsp;either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cTax fraud isn\\\\u2019t just a numbers game\\\\u2014it\\\\u2019s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,\\\\u201d said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. \\\\u201cThis sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service \\\\u2013 Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:06:12-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440772\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440658\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETampa, FL \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington\\\\u0026nbsp;to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue Service \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f99c1d07-ccc6-4318-b01b-c423c44d5385\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Asset Forfeiture\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/tampa-man-sentenced-46-months-federal-prison-and-ordered-pay-over-700000-internal\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"cf777ea7-8b90-4b2a-8bf1-46828e0572e3\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (\\\\u201cFCC Coleman\\\\u201d) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:04:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440644\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"544d3323-77d6-4482-917e-ff6c9b4a2fae\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T09:02:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788440553\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOcala, Florida \\\\u2013 Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate Husband\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdfl\\\\/pr\\\\/polk-county-woman-admits-smuggling-methamphetamine-federal-prison-her-inmate-husband\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d061465-a95f-4df6-8df2-3adf99ef9e39\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMADISON, WIS. \\\\u2013 Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Stanley Pophal, 65, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 8 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Pophal pleaded guilty to the charges on April 20, 2026. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14.25 million.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal, using the business name Bright with Silver, Inc., offered investment opportunities; including cryptocurrency, real estate flipping, artificial intelligence technology, gold, silver, and emeralds. Pophal convinced most investors to sign investment contracts, which he styled as promissory notes. The promissory notes guaranteed investors a rate of return of at least 20%. Pophal told investors that he was able to secure high rates of return because he had connections in the finance, commodities, and real estate sectors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPophal also repeatedly told investors that even if his investments on their behalf were not successful, their investment principal was never at risk because he had enough personal wealth to repay each investor\\\\u0027s principal. He told investors that he had accumulated his wealth through past business and investment success. In fact, Pophal\\\\u2019s claims of past business success were exaggerated, and his claims of vast personal wealth were false. Pophal never had sufficient funds to personally guarantee each investor\\\\u2019s principal.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPophal used the vast majority of money he received from investors to pay his personal and business expenses, fund personal travel, pay his mortgage, rent a private plane, and purchase snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles including a yellow Ferrari.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo further the fraud scheme, Pophal made \\\\u201cPonzi\\\\u201d payments to early victims, falsely representing the payments to be investment returns or interest, when in truth the payments were comprised of funds from new investors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the sentencing, many victims spoke, sharing the impact that Pophal\\\\u2019s crimes had on them. Stressing that life savings and retirement funds were lost, Judge Conley noted that no prison sentence could fully account for the horror of Pophal\\\\u2019s conduct because Pophal preyed upon vulnerable individuals who trusted him. Judge Conley also found that the victims were still grieving over the loss of their hard-earned funds.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized more than 600 items Pophal purchased or funded with investor funds. The items included hundreds of snowmobiles, which Pophal stored in a rented warehouse. Two photos from that warehouse are below. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Pophal agreed to forfeit these items.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPophal\\\\u2019s actions were not just financial crimes; they were deliberate acts of greed. He preyed on investors who trusted him, draining their life savings and shattering their security. Yesterday\\\\u2019s sentence makes clear that exploiting people for personal gain will be met with firm and unambiguous justice. The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office will continue to stand up for victims whose voices were stolen by fraudsters like him.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cPophal took the trust his investors placed in him and turned it into a payday for himself, using deceit to steal more than $14 million and live high on other people\\\\u2019s money,\\\\u201d said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. \\\\u201cOur special agents used their forensic accounting expertise to pull apart his Ponzi scheme, dollar by dollar. There\\\\u2019s no clever way to dress up stealing, and if you build your fortune by cheating others, don\\\\u2019t be surprised when the numbers lead us straight to your door.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cStanley Pophal victimized 190 hardworking people out of their money through an investment scam in which he lied to would-be investors. Instead of growing wealth for the victims, he spent their money to fund his own personal lavish lifestyle which included purchasing hundreds of snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles. His deceit led to victim losses of over $14 million,\\\\u201d said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. \\\\u201cThe FBI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable for their actions. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to steal from hardworking people for their own personal greed.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges against Pophal are a result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI with assistance from The Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau, the Allamakee Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office, and the Winneshiek Sheriff\\\\u0027s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-08T12:00:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788883248\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09a924bc-9cee-4351-b52d-e1c0801de0ce\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Wisconsin, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:08:20-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476900\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Wausau Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdwi\\\\/pr\\\\/wausau-man-sentenced-8-years-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"310c8a32-507f-4879-b582-27f77d0864b1\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWade was previously convicted in 2011 on federal charges of possession of child pornography and was on supervised release for those offenses when he committed these newest offenses. On April 11, 2024, probation officers searched Wade\\\\u2019s residence, seizing multiple unmonitored devices, including four laptops and a hard drive, suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. An initial review recovered multiple videos of suspected child pornography on the seized hard drive, which was found hidden under some clothes in a laundry bin. A subsequent examination recovered over 40,000 images and videos of child pornography on the hard drive. Investigators also located the web browser Tore on the hard drive. Tore is frequently used by individuals in possession of child pornography to receive and distribute child pornography from the internet.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Melissa M. Marangola. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:04:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476654\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T19:02:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476551\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal jury convicts prior felon on new child pornography charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-prior-felon-new-child-pornography-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0d45f0ea-0e4b-4094-be00-31983cfb9d3c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Heekin said: \\\\u201cThis pair of repeat offenders has demonstrated an outright refusal to lead law-abiding lives, and the only way we can guarantee the safety of our community is by ensuring they are kept off our streets and behind federal bars where they belong. My office will continue to back up the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions like this to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents reflect that on January 14, 2026, federal agents executed an arrest warrant on Perry at a hotel in Pensacola, Florida. When law enforcement made entry into Perry\\\\u2019s hotel room to effectuate the arrest, they observed drug paraphernalia littered throughout the room, along with a \\\\u201cspeed loader\\\\u201d tool to quickly load ammunition into firearm magazines. Bassolino, another occupant of the hotel room, admitted that narcotics were present and gave consent to search the room. During their search, law enforcement discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded firearm. Both Bassolino and Perry are convicted felons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, with Perry most recently being convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl in July 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDue to a prior serious drug felony conviction, Perry faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years\\\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count. Perry also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years\\\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence given in this case, for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count and up to 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the possession by a convicted felon count.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBassolino faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years\\\\u2019 imprisonment up to a maximum of forty years\\\\u2019 imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBassolino and Perry are scheduled for sentencing on November 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm respectively, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation\\\\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.\\\\u0026nbsp; To access public court documents online, please visit the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E website.\\\\u0026nbsp;For more information about the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:36:15-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788453375\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e679fa3-81a3-47b0-a005-518d5e92c4fe\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Florida, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T12:34:48-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788453288\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPensacola, Florida\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u2013 Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Guilty Pleas Entered for Pensacola-Area Gun \\\\u0026amp; Drug Crimes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndfl\\\\/pr\\\\/guilty-pleas-entered-pensacola-area-gun-drug-crimes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b2f91ad0-857c-49d2-be89-b24bc3e2dd1d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWILMINGTON, Del. \\\\u2013 Federal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with\\\\u0026nbsp;the FBI\\\\u2019s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Vincent Valdivieso, 22, exchanged text messages with an 11-year-old victim in which he lied about his own age, repeatedly requested sexually explicit photographs, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting with the victim.\\\\u0026nbsp; Over FaceTime and at Valdivieso\\\\u2019s direction, the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct while Valdivieso masturbated.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EValdivieso is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography and attempting to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u00a7\\\\u0026nbsp;2251(a) and (e); attempted receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7\\\\u00a7 2252(a)(2) and (b); and transfer of obscene material to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. \\\\u00a7 1470.\\\\u0026nbsp; If convicted, Valdivieso faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp; Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;The FBI\\\\u2019s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Street Task Force and Delaware State Police investigated the case.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI launched \\\\u201cSummer Heat\\\\u201d for the second year in a row, targeting violent crime on a nationwide scale. It launched this multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside federal, state, and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, the FBI seeks to aggressively restore safety in communities across the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u0027 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA copy of this press release is located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\u0022\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware.\\\\u0026nbsp; Related court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ded.uscourts.gov\\\\/\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the District of Delaware or on \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 26-mj-442.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:35:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788460505\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c0b87f89-7a91-4fde-8d5a-549b5458a6f7\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Delaware\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:18:08-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788445088\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFederal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with\\\\u0026nbsp;the FBI\\\\u2019s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Wilmington Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges Involving an 11-Year-Old\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-de\\\\/pr\\\\/wilmington-man-arrested-child-pornography-charges-involving-11-year-old\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"280ad19b-fbee-47d6-b5a6-b068730eabad\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMISSOULA \\\\u2013 An Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EManuel Flores, 72, pleaded guilty in February 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Flores tried to coerce a 15-year-old Montana girl into a sexual relationship while she was living in his house in Arizona and after she returned home. The girl was the daughter of a family friend; Flores had known her for several years. In June 2024, he arranged for the girl to travel from Montana to his home in Arizona to spend the summer.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWhile in his home, Flores texted the girl regarding his sexual interest in her. The girl rejected Flores\\\\u2019 advances and returned to Montana at the end of the summer. However, Flores continued to text the girl, with many of these messages repeating and furthering the sexual advances he had sent over the summer. At times, he encouraged the girl to return to Arizona so that they could be together romantically.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe girl told her mother about Flores\\\\u2019s behavior and the mom contacted law enforcement. Agents took over the girl\\\\u2019s account and posed as the girl in further communication with Flores, who continued to message. In a string of texts, Flores requested in graphic detail nude photos of the girl and told her he would fly to Montana and not return to Arizona until he had her with him. Flores flew to Montana on Aug. 18, 2025, and was arrested by law enforcement when he landed.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:45:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475519\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:39:11-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-233\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAn Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Arizona man sentenced to a decade in prison after he attempted to coerce a teenage girl into sex\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/arizona-man-sentenced-decade-prison-after-he-attempted-coerce-teenage-girl-sex\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d3ce707c-6375-4e1c-b00d-e6e3733683fd\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEL RIO, Texas \\\\u2013 A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Estin Cole West, 25, operated a Google account that had been identified as saving 81 videos and images of suspected child sexual abuse material in November 2023 when he was living in Laredo. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed the Google account, IP address, and two associated email addresses all belonged to West.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHSI agents also learned that West was employed by the Texas National Guard and had recently been stationed at a military installation in Del Rio. During an interview with West, agents located multiple videos depicting CSAM in a locked folder within West\\\\u2019s phone, as well as a Telegram application that also contained several batches of CSAM. A forensic analysis of West\\\\u2019s phone returned 512 images and 726 videos depicting child pornography, including images of bestiality and prepubescent children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWest was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EICE HSI investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:58:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788451094\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T11:56:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788450993\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEstin Cole West was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Texas National Guardsman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/texas-national-guardsman-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possessing-child\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"547ce5a7-946e-457b-9176-3720b7762dee\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn January 1974, Ridgeway began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), based upon his representation that he is disabled and does not own countable resources exceeding $2,000 in value. In January 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on Langmeyer Avenue in Buffalo, jointly with his wife. The value of the property at the time exceeded $2,000, which made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until March 2017.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESubsequently, in October 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on LaSalle Avenue in Buffalo, using the identity of J.J.R. The value of the property at time of purchase exceeded $2,000, which again made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until September 2011. In February 2005, Ridgeway purchased two properties on Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, the value of which exceeded $2,000. He owned the properties until October 2020, once again making him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. In May 2010, Ridgeway purchased a property on Marigold Street in Buffalo, using the identity of his deceased mother. Once again, the value of the property exceeded $2,000. He owned the property until October 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERidgeway failed to disclose ownership of any of these the properties to the SSA, with the intent to continue fraudulently collecting SSI payments. In June 2021, Ridgeway completed an SSI redetermination with the SSA. On the redetermination form, he stated that he did not own any property and signed it under the following statement: \\\\u201cI understand that anyone who knowingly lies or misrepresents the truth or arranges for someone to knowingly lie or misrepresent the truth is committing a crime which can be punished under Federal law, State law, or both. Everything on this document is the truth as best I know it.\\\\u201d The SSA determined that Ridgeway\\\\u2019s concealment of his resources resulted in an SSI overpayment of $179,276 between February 2004, and October 2023.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (\\\\u201cFraud Division\\\\u201d). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is of the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, Boston New York Field Division, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:56:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788476207\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T18:50:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788475802\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Buffalo man going to prison for defrauding SSA out of tens of thousands of dollars\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"49a56700-51fc-458e-8f05-a423079c287b\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Benefit Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/buffalo-man-going-prison-defrauding-ssa-out-tens-thousands-dollars\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dde16372-8bca-4156-b83b-f489deea1155\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, three men engaged in distribution of methamphetamine across the Quad Cities area. The men were responsible for providing approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution in the Quad Cities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn March 17, 2026, Jacob Daniel Sheley, 27, of Clinton, also known as \\\\u201cChili,\\\\u201d was sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During a February 2025 search warrant at Sheley\\\\u2019s Clinton residence, law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded firearm, and more than $6000 in drug proceeds. In 2020, Sheley was convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in the Iowa District Court for Clinton County.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn June 16, 2026, Jacob Daniel Timmsen, 35, of Durant, was sentenced to 284 months, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Timmsen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn September 1, 2026, Cody Scott Sheese, 27, of Davenport, also known as \\\\u201cCody Tuttle\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cNugget,\\\\u201d was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheese pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sheese was on supervised release at the time of this offense. Sheese\\\\u2019s supervised release was revoked and was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to run consecutive to the 20-year prison term.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnited States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Muscatine County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e9e9329b8913137c546261feecdec6eab\\\\u0022\\\\u003Erapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders;\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ec7f3c03ee0afe8320337b6972c5bb424\\\\u0022\\\\u003Estrong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e47379f5e99812736859a6184dd621b4b\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eaccountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThese efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov\\\\/PSN.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:31:21-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788456681\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0ba3d6d-541b-46b7-a786-b44f77f897e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:27:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788456455\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDAVENPORT, Iowa \\\\u2013 Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Iowa Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"51b9125c-0741-4d24-a339-41f553c87538\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Opioids\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdia\\\\/pr\\\\/iowa-men-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-and-gun-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"41538d76-869e-4431-9ba8-7b8134b9e41a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \\\\u2013 Dominican authorities extradited Fidel Antonio Knight-Cerda to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced H\\\\u00e9ctor Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant was arrested in the Dominican Republic on July 8, 2026, and extradited to Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis extradition is another important step towards the total elimination of international drug cartels and demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners, and the cooperation of the Dominican authorities, to work together to bring international drug traffickers to justice,\\\\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney Ram\\\\u00edrez-Carb\\\\u00f3. \\\\u201cWe will continue to maximize our multi-agency efforts to disrupt and dismantle international drug cartels that poison our streets and communities with dangerous drugs by smuggling these into Puerto Rico and the continental United States.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s action underscores the FBI\\\\u2019s unwavering commitment to pursuing transnational criminal actors wherever they operate. Working alongside our partners, we will continue to dismantle networks that threaten the safety and stability of our communities,\\\\u201d said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s San Juan Field Office. \\\\u201cThis extradition demonstrates that no distance, no alliance, and no criminal \n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nud and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on investors for personal gain.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe sheer magnitude of this investment fraud and the financial harm it caused to hundreds of innocent victims underscores the seriousness of abuse to our financial systems,\\\\u201d said IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. \\\\u201cPerkins\\\\u2019 lengthy prison sentence and massive restitution order reflects the gravity of the defendant\\\\u2019s actions and makes clear that when someone lies about performance, conceals losses, and siphons off other people\\\\u2019s money for themselves, IRS CI will uncover the truth.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Utah Division of Securities.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton, Joseph Hood, and Travis K. Elder of The U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T15:23:23-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788463403\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e6b05612-a636-4a2b-80bd-dffad09c4d08\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Utah\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:13:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788455613\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"Release No. 26-92\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EST. GEORGE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, Utah \\\\u2013 A Southern Utah man was sentenced to 180 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment after he posed as a \\\\u2018savant\\\\u2019 stock trader, obtaining at least $89 million from approximately 200 investors. The majority of the funds were either lost in day trading or misappropriated, resulting in an outstanding victim loss of at least $77 million, which he concealed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Washington County Man Sentenced to 15 Years\\\\u2019 Imprisonment for Wire Fraud \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5f03be8-739e-438c-8fd4-913af5967747\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Securities, Commodities, \\\\u0026 Investment Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ut\\\\/pr\\\\/washington-county-man-sentenced-15-years-imprisonment-wire-fraud\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1f439b0b-379a-451d-a3eb-49698e3b481e\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDevonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Skinner to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to admissions made as part of his guilty plea,\\\\u0026nbsp;on February 21, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security \\\\u2013 Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase of 3,792 pills pressed to resemble 30 mg oxycodone and containing 539.2 grams of fentanyl\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Efrom Skinner and another individual using a confidential source (CS). The CS met Skinner in a restaurant parking lot on O\\\\u2019Neal Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Skinner was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle and exchanged the pills and money with the CS.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security \\\\u2013 Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Livingston Parish Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese led the prosecution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cI am very pleased with the dedicated work of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Wall. \\\\u201cFentanyl continues to pose a grave threat to communities throughout Louisiana and distributing this substance in such quantities risks devastating harm.\\\\u0026nbsp; The Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account the criminal act and the defendant\\\\u2019s prior criminal history, called for a sentencing range of 262 to 327 months. Although we respect the Court\\\\u2019s role in sentencing, we have concerns that a sentence far below the guidelines range sends a harmful message. Unfortunately, our district has experienced hundreds of fentanyl overdoses over the past few years. Recently, we are beginning to see a reduction in those numbers, which gives us some optimism that the message of the dangerousness of fentanyl is finally gaining traction. The defendant\\\\u2019s conduct has to be viewed in the same light as if he had fired 3,972 rounds of ammunition on our public streets.\\\\u0026nbsp; A 92-month sentence is insufficient, and our office is reviewing the judgment closely and considering all options, including appeal.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cFentanyl traffickers endanger our communities with every pill they put on the street,\\\\u201d said HSI New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. \\\\u201cThis\\\\u0026nbsp;investigation and conviction reflect\\\\u0026nbsp;HSI\\\\u2019s\\\\u0026nbsp;continued\\\\u0026nbsp;commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who distribute deadly narcotics in Louisiana. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue using every lawful tool available to disrupt criminal networks and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Coast Guard, Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol (CBP BP) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u0027s Office for Middle District of Louisiana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:12:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788444772\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"efa9b0a3-60ef-43a1-9868-7817639284bd\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Louisiana, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T08:48:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788439687\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDevonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS APPEAL OF SENTENCE OF ALBANY MAN SENTENCED TO 92 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING NEARLY 4,000 FENTANYL PILLS\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdla\\\\/pr\\\\/government-considers-appeal-sentence-albany-man-sentenced-92-months-federal-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d97ff93-6133-4219-b362-b64002becfdb\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREAT FALLS \\\\u2013 A Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELeonard Allen Parisian, 63, pleaded guilty in May 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EChief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Parisian was part of a group trafficking fentanyl on the Rocky Boy\\\\u2019s Indian Reservation between 2023 and 2025.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaw enforcement first learned of Parisian\\\\u2019s involvement with the group in spring 2024. An informant told officers that starting in 2020 he supplied fentanyl pills to Parisian\\\\u2019s son, \\\\u201cLittle Al.\\\\u201d When Little Al was sent to prison in 2023, the informant began supplying pills to Parisian, known as \\\\u201cBig Al,\\\\u201d who purchased between 3,000 and 6,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Big Al regularly sent couriers out of state to pick up the fentanyl from the informant. In all, the informant estimated that Big Al purchased between 15,000 and 20,000 fentanyl pills for redistribution in Montana.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:43:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788446615\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T10:35:51-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788446151\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-227\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Box Elder man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl on Rocky Boy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/box-elder-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-trafficking-fentanyl-rocky-boy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"61b7eb35-6768-423e-99a3-a2f0f5f012e4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERICHMOND, Va. \\\\u2013 A Richmond man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, on May 22, 2025, Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, used a dating app to contact another user who purportedly was the father of a nine-year-old son, but in actuality was an undercover agent with the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Sprinkle immediately invited the user to communicate via the Telegram app. After alluding to a sexual interest in minors, Sprinkle sent a video depicting two adults sexually abusing a minor. Sprinkle then expressed his interest in travelling to Washington, D.C., to meet the other user and sexually abuse his purported nine-year-old son.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOn Oct. 16, 2025, FBI agents searched Sprinkle\\\\u2019s residence in Richmond and seized two laptop computers and a cellphone. Sprinkle\\\\u2019s cellphone contained 43 CSAM files and one of the laptops contained two additional files. The files included depictions of the abuse of toddler-aged children.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\\\\u2019s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Hubbard Theisen and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-2.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:39:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457159\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T13:38:54-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788457134\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERandon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, of Richmond, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Richmond man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/richmond-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-distributing-child-sexual-abuse-material\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d30db26f-433a-42f3-b4f2-ca51aeb7ee10\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment, returned on September 2, 2026, includes two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from alleged conduct in 2011 and a charge of possession of child pornography. These charges are in addition to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and falsely presenting as a federal employee, which were initially charged by federal criminal complaint following Cassidy\\\\u2019s arrest on federal charges in August.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the federal criminal complaint previously filed in the matter, Cassidy allegedly used his position as a teacher and athletics coach to develop a relationship with a minor student and falsely represented himself as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also used multiple online platforms\\\\u2014email, messaging services, and encrypted accounts\\\\u2014to communicate with the minor under various fictitious identities. Cassidy allegedly directed the minor to engage in acts, including taking partially nude photographs of herself, claiming they were part of an FBI \\\\u201ctraining program.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChildren should never have to fear the adults entrusted with their safety and education. The allegations in this indictment are abhorrent and represent a profound betrayal of that trust,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. \\\\u201cWe will relentlessly pursue those who prey upon children and use every available resource to hold them accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cCassidy stands accused of a litany of crimes against children who were entrusted to his care. This is every parent\\\\u2019s nightmare \\\\u2013 a trusted coach, teacher, and trainer allegedly using his trust and access to children to manipulate and eventually exploit kids,\\\\u201d said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. \\\\u201cThis case came to HSI\\\\u2019s attention through a tip from a vigilant parent through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners. HSI works around the clock with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes against children, but we can only do this work with the help of the parents, friends, teachers, and members of the public who are ready to come forward when they see something they know is wrong.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe indictment further alleges that Cassidy sexually exploited a minor on two occasions in 2011 for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Cassidy is also charged with knowingly possessing or accessing, with intent to view, child pornography through approximately June 1, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECassidy is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECoercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each count of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of thirty years. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, and falsely presenting as a federal employee carries a maximum sentence of three years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECassidy was previously arrested on June 1 and July 17, 2026, on related Rhode Island state charges. The federal investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to review evidence and evaluate reports of Cassidy\\\\u2019s contacts with additional minors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise Barton.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement partners.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T13:54:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788544447\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e17ec19f-b1c6-4c6d-a849-6de60c8a12ef\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Rhode Island\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T13:15:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788542153\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-90\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EPROVIDENCE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Barrington Christian Academy Teacher Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation Charges\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ri\\\\/pr\\\\/former-barrington-christian-academy-teacher-indicted-federal-child-exploitation-charges\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"19f181b6-64d9-4f3a-9d4c-7d24a28d3a2a\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\\\u2013 A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESeals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:51:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461518\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-03T14:44:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788461087\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788436800\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EVerndale Ray Seals was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/judge-deals-30-year-federal-sentence-texas-felon-who-trafficked-fentanyl-state-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"505bc82b-9374-4e8e-bc2e-c9620d8f9b47\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cdiv\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREENSBORO \\\\u2013 A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior\\\\/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOfficers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk\\\\u2019s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was dri\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

E0088 · turn 1 · tool result · web_fetch · dispatch toolu_bdrk_01PedipR1BxTU7XkvHV1RjAS

{"dispatch_id": "toolu_bdrk_01PedipR1BxTU7XkvHV1RjAS", "elapsed": 3.782068684, "error": "", "result": "{\"content\":\"{\\\"metadata\\\":{\\\"responseInfo\\\":{\\\"status\\\":200},\\\"resultset\\\":{\\\"count\\\":\\\"272245\\\",\\\"pagesize\\\":\\\"50\\\",\\\"page\\\":10},\\\"executionTime\\\":1.5228471755981445},\\\"results\\\":[{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EALBUQUERQUE\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EZachary Babitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was sentenced to life plus 26 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024, including the fatal shooting of an 83-year-old Santa Fe man during a carjacking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThere is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, between July 30 and August 10, 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, 40, committed a series of armed robberies, carjackings and a fatal shooting across Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Do\\\\u00f1a Ana counties.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u2019s crime spree began on July 30, 2024, when he entered an AutoZone in Albuquerque armed with a handgun, demanded money from an employee and stole approximately $345. The following day, he robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Albuquerque by presenting a demand note and indicating he was armed, obtaining approximately $3,300.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 3, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E robbed a Jersey Mike\\\\u2019s restaurant at gunpoint, taking cash from the register and forcing an employee to open a safe where additional money was stolen.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 6, 2024, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E committed a carjacking in Santa Fe County during which he confronted 83-year-old John Doe with a firearm. When Doe offered resistance, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E shot him, rifled through his pockets for the vehicle keys and left him in a parking lot. Doe later died from his injuries.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEven after the killing, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E continued his violent crime spree. On August 9, he carried out another carjacking in Bernalillo County, knocking the victim unconscious. On August 10 in Las Cruces, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E and an accomplice robbed an Arby\\\\u2019s restaurant at gunpoint, stealing cash, and later that same day participated in another armed carjacking in which they forced a victim from a vehicle at gunpoint. While fleeing from law enforcement, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E crashed the stolen vehicle and was found hiding in a nearby dumpster.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAt the time of the offenses, \\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was on state probation for six robberies committed in Albuquerque and had a lengthy history of violent felony convictions. His adult criminal record dates to 2004 and includes armed carjackings in Nevada and California, including an incident in which he fired a gun while attempting to steal a woman\\\\u2019s purse. After moving to New Mexico, he was convicted in 2018 for a series of six robberies committed over several weeks.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EBabitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was charged by federal indictment with 13 counts arising from the 2024 crime spree. On October 22, 2025, the United States filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. On April 17, 2026, Babitz and the United States entered into a binding plea agreement calling for a sentence of life imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBabitz pleaded guilty to all 13 counts of the indictment, including two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use and possession of a firearm, one count of carjacking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting, one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement today.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the FBI\\\\u2019s Albuquerque Field Office, Santa Fe Police Department, Albuquerque Police Department and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:40:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788381618\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c20534dd-eed9-4241-aab0-6c85656d760f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New Mexico\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:34:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788377673\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-258\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EZachary Babitz\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E was sentenced to life plus 26 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024, including the fatal shooting of an 83-year-old Santa Fe man during a carjacking.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Zachary Babitz Sentenced to Life in Prison for Armed Robbery and Carjacking Crime Spree That Ended in Fatal Shooting\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nm\\\\/pr\\\\/zachary-babitz-sentenced-life-prison-armed-robbery-and-carjacking-crime-spree-ended\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6291454d-8386-4519-a906-72d41be4554d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELONDON, Ky. \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EFranklin Delano Campbell, 67, was sentenced on Wednesday to 236 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith, on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine (powder) and cocaine base (crack).\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation revealed that, beginning sometime around January 2022, and continuing through November 2025, Campbell was regularly obtaining one-half to one-kilogram quantities of powder cocaine from and out-of-state source of supply. Campbell would then turn a large portion of this cocaine into crack, which he would sell to various upper-, mid-, and low-level drug traffickers, as well as end drug users in the Perry County, Kentucky area. Campbell and his co-conspirators sold the majority of these drugs from his home in the Bonnyman, Kentucky. Campbell paid others in drugs and\\\\/or money to drive to Ohio and meet with his source to pick up these drugs and bring them back to Kentucky.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;As part of his plea, Campbell forfeited several pieces of real property, two vehicles, multiple firearms, and approximately $119,684.00 in U.S. currency that were seized as part of the investigation.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUnder federal law, Campbell must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys W. Samuel Dotson and Haley Trogden McCauley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u2013 END \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:29:03-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380943\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f4eaf2ff-2595-4bee-bcfd-90d9bd09435d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Kentucky, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:26:59-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380819\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Perry County Man Sentenced for Trafficking Powder and Crack Cocaine\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edky\\\\/pr\\\\/perry-county-man-sentenced-trafficking-powder-and-crack-cocaine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b9ab1f3b-6c97-45d4-9dae-ba548e42a226\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESAN ANTONIO \\\\u2013 An illegal alien from Cuba was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Tuesday to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Robyn Argote-Brooks, 26, of Havana, Cuba, used his vehicle to damage an SUV and a sedan, both of which were property of the United States and maintained by ICE. The amount of damage to each vehicle exceeded $1,000.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EArgote-Brooks was arrested and charged via complaint with one count of destruction of government property. An indictment filed Feb. 4 added a second destruction of government property count as well as a charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer. On May 8, a federal jury convicted Argote-Brooks of both destruction of government property counts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Argote-Brooks to 10 months in federal prison for each count, which will run concurrently. Biery also ordered three years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment, and $9,767 in restitution for the damages.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Walker and Todd Keagle prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThis case is part of \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022 rel=\\\\u0022noopener noreferrer\\\\u0022 data-interception=\\\\u0022off\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T10:50:09-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788360609\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"35710eb4-518a-47cd-84da-e8bb304010b4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T10:46:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788360409\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERobyn Argote-Brooks, an illegal alien from Cuba, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Judge Orders Illegal Alien to Pay Nearly $10,000 and Serve Prison Time for Ramming ICE Vehicles in January \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-judge-orders-illegal-alien-pay-nearly-10000-and-serve-prison-time-ramming-ice\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d0f7c1ba-4e5a-47a5-b517-d9c1b8fe3f07\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETYLER, Texas \\\\u2013 A Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDennis Smith, 66, was named in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2026, charging him with coercion and enticement, attempted production of child pornography with intent to transport to the United States, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.\\\\u0026nbsp; Smith was arrested in Tyler on September 2, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in federal court on September 3, 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to the indictment, on various dates in 2019 and 2022, Smith is alleged to have committed numerous offenses involving minor victims.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;faces life\\\\u0026nbsp;in federal prison.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Led by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ewww.justice.gov\\\\/psc\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, the Smith County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Smith County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Richards and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.\\\\u0026nbsp; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003E \\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:57:18-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788379038\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:52:05-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788378725\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Smith County man arrested, charged with child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/smith-county-man-arrested-charged-child-exploitation-violations-eastern-district-texas\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d2b73a10-e4cf-486a-9c23-92ec06e98977\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERaul Torres-Olivarez, 47, from Mexico, who was illegally residing in the United States pled guilty on August 19, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEvidence at the plea hearing, showed that on February 4, 2026, law enforcement had information that Torres-Olivarez was unlawfully in the United States and was residing in Sioux City, Iowa.\\\\u0026nbsp; Immigration officials observed an individual matching the description of Torres-Olivarez leaving a residence and entering a vehicle.\\\\u0026nbsp; Officers attempted to traffic stop the vehicle driven by Torres-Olivarez, but he failed to immediately stop.\\\\u0026nbsp; The officers were operating in unmarked vehicles, and Torres-Olivarez\\\\u2019s vehicle struck one of the unmarked law enforcement vehicles.\\\\u0026nbsp; After Torres-Olivarez\\\\u2019s vehicle stopped, he attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETorres-Olivarez was previously removed from the United States to Mexico on or about December 1, 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.\\\\u0026nbsp; Torres-Olivarez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.\\\\u0026nbsp; Torres-Olivarez faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt file information at \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttps:\\\\/\\\\/ecf.iand.uscourts.gov\\\\/cgi-bin\\\\/login.pl\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case file number is 26-4006.\\\\u0026nbsp; Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:41:02-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374462\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"17ec88ed-fde4-42ba-b13e-3189e751678a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Iowa, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:40:00-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374400\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndia\\\\/pr\\\\/mexican-man-pleads-guilty-illegal-reentry-0\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99af35be-cf47-4ff2-a715-0d6fdedc721c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Richeline Anisso Fung, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and formerly of Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims while working as a full-time employee for the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS-CISA), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRicheline Fung stole a quarter\\\\u2011million dollars from the American taxpayer, and today she stands as a convicted felon who will be required to pay full restitution,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Pirro. \\\\u201cLet this be unmistakable: if you defraud the American\\\\u0026nbsp;people,\\\\u0026nbsp;federal agents will come knocking.\\\\u0026nbsp;Nationwide initiatives across federal agencies are rapidly detecting, rooting out, and prosecuting wrongdoing to protect every taxpayer dollar as part of President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable Sparkle Sooknanan accepted Fung\\\\u2019s guilty plea\\\\u0026nbsp;and\\\\u0026nbsp;scheduled sentencing for\\\\u0026nbsp;Jan.\\\\u0026nbsp;20, 2027.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cNo profession is immune from prosecution,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cRicheline Fung abused her positions as a federal employee and government contractor to steal nearly $250,000 from the U.S. government. Public service is a public trust, not an opportunity to defraud American taxpayers. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who defrauds the United States, regardless of title or agency.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents,\\\\u0026nbsp;Fung was a full-time DHS-CISA employee between September 2016 and October 2025. She lived in Maryland when she started working for DHS-CISA but moved to Florida. Between January 2021 and August 2024, Fung\\\\u0026nbsp;served in multiple federal government contractor positions despite being a full-time U.S. government employee with DHS-CISA. She worked as a contractor for the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She served in these positions as a direct employee or as an independent contractor\\\\/consultant through her business RAF Pro-Consulting, LLC, which she incorporated in Florida in 2020.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn connection with her employment, Fung\\\\u0026nbsp;submitted\\\\u0026nbsp;timesheets certifying the number of hours she worked each pay period. Fung routinely overstated those hours, even claiming to work more than 24 hours in a single day on multiple occasions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor example, in February 2022, Fung was employed by DHS-CISA and three different federal contractors performing work for USDA, FHWA, and DOJ. For that month alone, Fung\\\\u2019s combined hours totaled more than 24 hours in a single day on 15 occasions. Shockingly, she claimed to work 33 hours on February 7, 8, 9, and 10, and 32 hours on February 11.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFung admitted that she concealed her employment with DHS-CISA and the federal contractors from each other. She also acknowledged that she was able to conceal her employment because she teleworked\\\\u0026nbsp;for\\\\u0026nbsp;all\\\\u0026nbsp;the\\\\u0026nbsp;positions during the relevant period.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFung also admitted that her criminal conduct caused the U.S. government to suffer a loss of\\\\u0026nbsp;nearly a\\\\u0026nbsp;quarter million dollars. As part of her plea agreement, she must pay full restitution.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by the Offices of the Inspector General for AmeriCorps, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the FBI Washington Field Office.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.\\\\u0026nbsp;Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President JD Vance to\\\\u0026nbsp;eliminate\\\\u0026nbsp;fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E26cr177\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:43:17-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374597\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d50b78df-a13b-4519-9b32-00aae6e21409\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"74477cbc-f238-43ba-9479-f99f4788f858\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - District of Columbia\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:34:43-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788374083\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERicheline Anisso Fung, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and formerly of Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims while working as a full-time employee for the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS-CISA), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Former Homeland Security Employee Pleads Guilty in $250,000 Fraud Scheme \\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"32b4d47b-2142-420c-9aae-28f7bf2c86d4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Fraud\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-dc\\\\/pr\\\\/former-homeland-security-employee-pleads-guilty-250000-fraud-scheme\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"13aa156c-0380-4bda-8785-78d3489e8a9c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2014 A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMichael Moore lied to his clients and lied to the IRS all while lining his own pockets,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Fraud Enforcement Division. \\\\u201cTo conceal his involvement in his criminal conduct, Mr. Moore impermissibly used a former employee\\\\u2019s identity to file fraudulent returns. Return preparers like Mr. Moore who abuse their clients\\\\u2019 trust and undermine the integrity of the internal revenue laws will continue to be brought to justice by the Fraud Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section, our U.S. Attorneys, and our law enforcement partners like IRS-CI.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence sends a clear message that those who manufacture fake wage records for personal enrichment will face severe federal prison time,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cMoore\\\\u2019s schemes were designed to cheat the tax system while shifting the resulting burden onto law abiding taxpayers,\\\\u201d said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe of the IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s sentence underscores that IRS-CI will aggressively pursue those who exploit the tax system for personal gain, and it should serve as a reminder that financial crimes carry serious consequences.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 through 2025, Michael J. Moore, of Las Vegas, was a former CPA who operated a tax preparation, bookkeeping and accounting business that advertised itself as specializing in clients from the adult entertainment industry. Moore promoted a fraudulent tax avoidance scheme called the \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy.\\\\u201d As part of the scheme, Moore promised clients that in exchange for a fee he could prepare a tax return that eliminated the taxes they owed to the IRS and, in most cases, create a large tax refund. The fees Moore required as part of this \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy\\\\u201d were paid by the clients using the refund money received from the IRS. In many instances, clients were required to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETo carry out the \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy,\\\\u201d Moore made up false and fraudulent entries on the clients\\\\u2019 tax returns. In many cases, he did this by including on the returns false business expenses frequently amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. In some instances, Moore prepared and filed the tax returns using a former employee\\\\u2019s name and personal identifying information without their permission or knowledge.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAfter he had been charged for his role in the \\\\u201cSpecial Tax Shelter Strategy,\\\\u201d Moore engaged in a separate scheme involving preparation of false returns for clients. As part of this second scheme, Moore again reported totally false items on client tax returns. In the second scheme, Moore typically reported false losses from one or more corporate entities, most of which were defunct, dormant or carried on no business. These reported losses were false because the clients had not incurred these expenses.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn total, Moore caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $3.5 million.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMoore pleaded guilty to one count each of tax evasion, helping a client file a false tax return, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office investigated the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Patrick Burns of the National Fraud Enforcement Division\\\\u2019s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department\\\\u2019s work to combat fraud supports President Trump\\\\u2019s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:43:19-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385399\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:41:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385290\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2014 A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Nevada Man Sentenced to Prison for False Tax Return Schemes\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"77a2d846-a826-49db-a31a-c5db747e9ad3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Financial Fraud\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"2f8f7cfb-134b-4afd-965d-91dc2604a56f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Identity Theft\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4affbb9a-7e65-46c2-acc4-c22ad80d8561\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Tax\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/nevada-man-sentenced-prison-false-tax-return-schemes\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9f36c0d0-f5d6-4e0a-9f80-2f8629d2e892\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBEAUMONT, Texas \\\\u2013 A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDarrell Joshua Bendy, 42, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 2, 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, from December 2022 through November 2024, Bendy supplied kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a drug trafficker in Beaumont.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the conspiracy, Bendy lived in, and conducted his drug trafficking activities from Houston.\\\\u0026nbsp; During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $100,000 in cash.\\\\u0026nbsp; It is believed that between 20-30 kilograms of methamphetamine have been distributed as part of this drug trafficking conspiracy.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis\\\\u0026nbsp;case is\\\\u0026nbsp;part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; Jefferson County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office; Beaumont Police Department; Port Neches Police Department; Harris County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office; Vidor Police Department; and the Orange County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Lee and John B. Ross.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:43:34-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389014\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7640bef5-117f-47d2-9226-572020e05213\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:21:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788387710\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Beaumont man receives 40 year federal prison sentence as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edtx\\\\/pr\\\\/beaumont-man-receives-40-year-federal-prison-sentence-part-homeland-security-task\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5d71974e-c324-41d1-9333-75bbb227bee5\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBetween June 2020 and December 2021, Goodsell, then approximately 35 years old, was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor girl, who was 16 years and 17 years old. During that time, Goodsell used a cellular device to record videos while they were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In June 2022, Goodsell distributed multiple videos of that conduct through Facebook Messenger.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Colleen M. McCarthy are handling the prosecution of the case. The plea is the result of an investigation by\\\\u0026nbsp;the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O\\\\u2019Grady, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional Assistance was provided by the Pittsburgh Office of the FBI.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESentencing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:15:16-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788390916\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"73ee331b-c9db-4f9c-90d8-d22026560563\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:13:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788390832\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Wellsville man who had sex with a minor pleads guilty to distributing videos\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"24d5ff01-2591-4b4a-9d78-66db50247093\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Childhood\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdny\\\\/pr\\\\/wellsville-man-who-had-sex-minor-pleads-guilty-distributing-videos\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b702c503-cc82-45fc-bfcf-6f2ec40b8590\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cRepeat criminal offenders who treat our nation\\\\u0027s borders as a revolving door will face the full weight of federal prosecution,\\\\u201d said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cUnder Title 8 of the United States Code, unlawful reentry after a previous deportation\\\\u2014particularly following aggravated felony convictions\\\\u2014constitutes a federal felony carrying substantial prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMilton Daniel Lopez-Bonilla is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Rodriguez-Betanco is a citizen and national of Guatemala who was previously deported five times: October 5, 1998, February 6, 1999, May 12, 2004, February 5, 2008, and July 10, 2020, and reentered the United States illegally.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn August 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Lopez-Bonilla into custody after he was arrested in Reno, Nevada, on a prostitution-related charge. This will be Lopez-Bonilla\\\\u2019s third prosecution for illegal reentry into the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIf convicted, Lopez-Bonilla faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFirst Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated these cases; and the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted these cases.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMembers of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the \\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.ice.gov\\\\/webform\\\\/ice-tip-form\\\\u0022\\\\u003Eonline tip form\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EA complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:57:50-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389870\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:33:49-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788388429\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ELAS VEGAS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien With Five Deportations and Multiple Felony Convictions Charged for Illegal Reentry\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-five-deportations-and-multiple-felony-convictions-charged-illegal-reentry\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6594284d-fd5f-4c87-964b-c278cf06dae0\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBILLINGS \\\\u2013 A Bozeman man who was unlawfully carrying two loaded handguns was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney\\\\u0026nbsp;Mark Steger Smith\\\\u0026nbsp;said.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJerron Micheal Mitchell-Fuller, 36, pleaded guilty in April 2026\\\\u0026nbsp;to unlawfully possessing a firearm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government alleged in court documents that Mitchell-Fuller, who had been convicted of multiple felonies in the early 2010s, was found walking near I-90 in Bozeman carrying two loaded handguns. Earlier in the day, Mitchell-Fuller had taken the cell phone of a man in Bozeman, who reported the theft to police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaw enforcement tracked down Mitchell-Fuller and interviewed him. He said he had absconded from federal supervised release in Billings and admitted to knowing that he wasn\\\\u2019t allowed to own or carry firearms. Mitchell-Fuller was previously convicted for theft in Montana and Idaho, for escaping custody while in Cascade County, and for possessing meth with the intent to distribute in Billings.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:40:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788388839\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5cb21482-8e9f-46ef-8cd9-40537b5ac9e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a0640475-6d76-4fcb-b891-c0de885bf3d3\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Montana\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:37:04-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788388624\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-225\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Bozeman man who was unlawfully carrying two loaded handguns was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Bozeman man sentenced to 4 years in prison for unlawfully carrying loaded handguns\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mt\\\\/pr\\\\/bozeman-man-sentenced-4-years-prison-unlawfully-carrying-loaded-handguns\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"662a4ff0-1c72-4c23-aab2-9653a456a473\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EALEXANDRIA, Va. \\\\u2013 A New York man was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Abu Khamza, 35, pled guilty in May 2026 to conspiring to launder into cryptocurrency over $572,000 in what he believed to be drug money in the belief that such cryptocurrency would be transmitted to mujahideen in Syria.\\\\u0026nbsp; Khamza believed that the funds were generated by the illicit sale of prescription drugs for which the pharmacy owner could sell legitimately for $8 but sell without a prescription for $500.\\\\u0026nbsp; Evidence introduced into Court showed that, besides laundering cash into crypto, Khamza also engaged in extortion, cargo theft, auto theft, pandemic relief fraud, and check fraud.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ETheophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael A. Burgwald, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office\\\\u0027s Counterterrorism Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York, FBI New York and Philadelphia Field Offices, and New York County District Attorney\\\\u0027s Office assisted in the investigation.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacques Rio Singer-Emery, a Trial Attorney for the Justice Department\\\\u2019s National Security Division, prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-justify\\\\u0022\\\\u003ERelated court documents and information are located on the website of the\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.vaed.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EDistrict Court\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for the Eastern District of Virginia or on\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/pcl.uscourts.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EPACER\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-287.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:25:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373525\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7e997054-52a5-485c-82a1-1a0e161abc4e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Virginia, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:24:46-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373486\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAbu Khamza, 35, of New York, was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"New York man sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering conspiracy\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a2ef445b-5f6d-494b-bb3b-26e2254e95e0\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Counterterrorism\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edva\\\\/pr\\\\/new-york-man-sentenced-five-years-prison-money-laundering-conspiracy\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"5fea6515-2271-4c31-9434-c82c51bc5d14\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460036\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"04bf1df2-35ab-4472-95bd-92aa8b6ee731\\\"},\\\"description\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"display\\\":\\\"1\\\"}],\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EGREENVILLE, MS \\\\u2013 The Homeland Security Task Force initiative led to the investigation, prosecution and sentencing of Walter Walton, 34, of Coahoma County, Mississippi. Honorable Debra M. Brown, Chief United States District Court Judge, sentenced Walton today to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm after he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Defendant Walton pleaded guilty to these charges on an earlier date. A Taurus .357 caliber revolver was forfeited through a stipulated final order of forfeiture.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Coahoma County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Department investigated the case with assistance from the United States Marshal\\\\u2019s Service.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis operation and conviction are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.\\\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating tin the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.\\\\u0026nbsp;In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.\\\\u0026nbsp; The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.\\\\u0026nbsp; HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:07:31-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788383251\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"37e5d16a-e99b-4bb9-baa1-9f0c3be6d9e5\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Mississippi, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:59:30-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788375570\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"202609-02\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWalter Walton, 34, of Coahoma County, Mississippi, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charge of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022media entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--embedded entity-image-1460031\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/banner\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/walton.jpg?itok=u6GQVYMo\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u00223072\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u00224080\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022Photo of seized handgun\\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022Forfeited handgun as a result of guilty plea\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Convicted Felon Sentenced for Firearm Possession Part of Homeland Security Task Force Investigation\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndms\\\\/pr\\\\/convicted-felon-sentenced-firearm-possession-part-homeland-security-task-force\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"1cfb73cd-d983-417e-8563-fd4a6fc5b8d4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERENO \\\\u2013 A Reno man who was a naturalized U.S. citizen made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly lying about his prior criminal acts to obtain U.S. citizenship.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThe integrity of our nation\\\\u0027s lawful immigration system relies entirely on honesty and transparency,\\\\u201d said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. \\\\u201cWhen individuals lie about a violent or fraudulent criminal history to secure the privileges of American citizenship, they violate federal law and disrespect the millions of immigrants who follow the legal process correctly. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who use deceit to obtain these sacred rights.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u0022Lying on a citizenship application is a serious crime. Under the Trump administration, if you cheat to get U.S. citizenship, expect the consequences,\\\\u201d said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow. \\\\u0022U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is working closely with the Department of Justice to identify, denaturalize, and hold accountable those who unlawfully obtain U.S. citizenship.\\\\u0022\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Jesus King committed sexual assault in July 2017 and March 2018. In both instances, King forcibly penetrated his victims and used threats of physical harm to force his victims to perform sexual acts.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs alleged, on January 23, 2018, Kevin Jesus King submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that failed to disclose the July 2017 sexual assault and falsely denied having ever committed a criminal offense for which he was not arrested. On June 4, 2018, when King was interviewed under oath by a USCIS officer, he failed to disclose the July 2017 sexual assault, as well as the March 2018 sexual assault that had occurred just a few months earlier, and he again falsely denied having ever committed a criminal offense for which he was not arrested. Eleven days later, he obtained U.S. citizenship by naturalization.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 25, 2024, King admitted to the July 2017 and March 2018 sexual assaults when he pleaded guilty to violating N.R.S. 200.366.2B in Nevada state court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EKing, also known as \\\\u201cKevin Jesus Lopez Vargas,\\\\u201d \\\\u201cKevin Lopez-Vargas,\\\\u201d Kevin Lopez,\\\\u201d and \\\\u201cKevin Vagas,\\\\u201d was charged with one count of naturalization fraud. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for November 3, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUSCIS investigated the case. The District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:45:29-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788392729\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"bd643fbf-78ab-4335-ab1f-7951cebe0761\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Nevada\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T19:43:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788392633\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003ERENO \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003EA Reno man who was a naturalized U.S. citizen made his initial appearance in court today for allegedly lying about his prior criminal acts to obtain U.S. citizenship.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Naturalized U.S. Citizen Indicted for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Felonies\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-nv\\\\/pr\\\\/naturalized-us-citizen-indicted-lying-obtain-us-citizenship-after-committing-felonies\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"d862c6f6-1e57-4bfc-b7c4-c486fa6bccd2\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoffrey Blac James, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that on June 23, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe crimes occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJames will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-10T13:27:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1789061253\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b261679f-25b2-46ac-b4b4-3f396b08107d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-04T09:51:37-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788529897\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EMUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA \\\\u2013\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoffrey Blac James, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Indictment alleged that on June 23, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty To Armed Assault\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edok\\\\/pr\\\\/choctaw-county-resident-pleads-guilty-armed-assault\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"f50453e4-1ee2-4b5f-a2e3-4b3162ab1650\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EATLANTA \\\\u2013 Ismael Guerrero-Moya, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from his Waycross, Georgia prison cell. Four other members of the trafficking ring previously were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis illegal alien, who was serving a 30-year sentence for methamphetamine trafficking, orchestrated large-scale drug dealing using a contraband phone in state prison and a network of meth cooks and drug traffickers beyond prison walls,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. \\\\u201cAs a result of seamless coordination of federal, state, and local authorities in the Homeland Security Task Force, Guerrero-Moya\\\\u2019s operation has been dismantled, and he is now headed to federal prison for 30 years without the possibility of parole.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis case is a powerful example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local partners come together through the Homeland Security Task Force. Despite being incarcerated, this defendant continued coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine,\\\\u201d said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. \\\\u201cHSTF partnerships allow us to connect investigative resources, disrupt sophisticated trafficking networks, and ensure that those who threaten our communities are brought to justice.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cGuerrero-Moya\\\\u2019s continued criminal activity from inside a state prison shows the persistent threat posed by transnational drug traffickers who exploit every opportunity to keep poisoning our communities,\\\\u201d said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. \\\\u201cUsing a contraband phone and outside criminal associates, he directed a methamphetamine trafficking network that moved hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs. HSI and our federal, state, and local partners will continue to target and dismantle these organizations wherever they operate to protect public safety and hold offenders accountable.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2012, a Superior Court judge in Fayette County, Georgia sentenced Guerrero-Moya to 30 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during commission of a felony. While serving his sentence in state prison, Guerrero-Moya used a contraband cell phone to resume his drug trafficking operation, with the assistance of Michael Childers, who used an auto repair shop to conceal methamphetamine in vehicles. In addition, Salvador Bolanos Villalpando and Jose Jovani Toledo operated a methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Ellenwood, Georgia on behalf of Guerrero-Moya. The organization also included Kamal Hussein Espinosa, a multi-kilogram methamphetamine dealer, who purchased methamphetamine from Guerrero-Moya while on parole for a prior drug trafficking conviction.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIn March 2020, federal investigators, working with state partners, dismantled Guerrero-Moya\\\\u2019s drug network through a series of seizures and arrests, taking over 500 pounds of methamphetamine off the street, including 150 pounds of methamphetamine seized from a residence in Ellenwood, Georgia, and 30 pounds of methamphetamine recovered from a vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EYesterday, Ismael Guerrero-Moya, 51, of Dieciocho de Marzo, Michoac\\\\u00e1n, Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Guerrero-Moya was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 10, 2025, after he pleaded guilty.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe following defendants were previously sentenced in this case:\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e00c0000c0b7b3e4a1952b36f45321038\\\\u0022\\\\u003ESalvador Bolanos Villalpando, 56, of Buenavista Tomatl\\\\u00e1n, Michoac\\\\u00e1n, Mexico, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022ef641ca44456ab9dc1784e98c2521759d\\\\u0022\\\\u003EJose Jovani Toledo, 36, of Torrance, California, was sentenced to six years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e4096ec3078775f664251f06e7594e630\\\\u0022\\\\u003EMichael Childers, 51, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\\\\u0022e60e3b4e6964ce4db6ef02ef8cf1dff78\\\\u0022\\\\u003EKamal Hussein Espinosa, 44, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to fourteen years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering.\\\\u003C\\\\/li\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/ul\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Corrections, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Matthew R. LaGrone, and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons, prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis prosecution is\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003Epart of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFor further information please contact the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Public Affairs Office at\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022\\\\u003EUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022http:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u0022\\\\u003Ehttp:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:00:41-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788379241\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"4f03e6af-f2cb-40c6-89c8-6871fdd8aa47\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9bfdb66b-8d35-40b9-b229-30571df66ef6\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Georgia, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:54:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788378867\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIsmael Guerrero-Moya, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in coordinating the distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from his Waycross, Georgia prison cell. Four other members of the trafficking ring previously were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Illegal Alien Who Operated Large Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring from State Prison Sentenced to Federal Prison with Four Others\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5d71962-dc22-418a-a5dc-74ddabe72a8f\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Homeland Security Task Force\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"99088e6f-b391-49fb-a07e-9ff953350ded\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Immigration\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndga\\\\/pr\\\\/illegal-alien-who-operated-large-methamphetamine-trafficking-ring-state-prison\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b745fd7a-81f1-4995-a298-c40e8d2650b4\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Chad Barclay pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a victim, Jane Doe #1.\\\\u0026nbsp; Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated that he kidnapped six additional women.\\\\u0026nbsp; The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.\\\\u0026nbsp;When sentenced, Barclay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment and up to life in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJoseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,\\\\u201d stated United States Attorney Nocella.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking.\\\\u0026nbsp; We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EMr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division for their support, and the New York City Police Department for its assistance.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,\\\\u201d stated Assistant Attorney General Duva. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cThis prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay\\\\u2019s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity. The FBI and NYPD\\\\u0027s joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions,\\\\u201d stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs set forth in court filings and during today\\\\u2019s plea proceeding, on September 13, 2022, Barclay enticed Jane Doe #1, who he met on Eros, an online escort website, to travel from another state to his apartment in Brooklyn to engage in commercial sex.\\\\u0026nbsp; After arriving at his apartment, Barclay paid Jane Doe #1 approximately $1,500 in cash for sex.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay then used force to have sex with her without a condom and against her will.\\\\u0026nbsp; After raping Jane Doe #1, Barclay opened her purse and took the $1,500 he already paid her.\\\\u0026nbsp; In addition, he stole approximately $1,200 from the victim\\\\u2019s purse.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay asserted that Jane Doe #1 still owed him $1,500 for working on his turf, claiming that he \\\\u201cran\\\\u201d Brooklyn and was part of a \\\\u201cBrooklyn gang\\\\u201d so all the women in Brooklyn worked for him and had to pay him a \\\\u201ctax.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp; When Jane Doe #1 replied that she did not have any more money, Barclay laughed and said that she was going to have to \\\\u201cpay or you have to work for me or you die.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarclay also warned Jane Doe #1 that his \\\\u201cguys\\\\u201d were in front of the building and they would kill her if she tried to leave.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay also confiscated her phone, forced her to unlock it with her face and reviewed the contents of her phone.\\\\u0026nbsp; After reviewing her phone, Barclay\\\\u0026nbsp;threatened Jane Doe #1 by stating that he knew where she lived and that she had a daughter.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay permitted her to leave after Jane Doe #1 stated that she sent a friend her location information and that her friend would call the police if she did not hear from Jane Doe #1 soon.\\\\u0026nbsp; Jane Doe #1 later reported the rape to local police and went to a hospital where a rape kit was performed.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAs part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023.\\\\u0026nbsp; Barclay engaged in a similar pattern in which he enticed commercial sex workers to come to his apartment where he robbed and sexually assaulted most of the victims.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe government\\\\u2019s case is being handled by the Office\\\\u2019s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section.\\\\u0026nbsp; Assistant United States\\\\u0026nbsp; Attorneys Andy Palacio and Lorena Michelen and Trial Attorney Olimpia Michel of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice are in charge of the prosecution.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cu\\\\u003EThe Defendant\\\\u003C\\\\/u\\\\u003E:\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHAD BARCLAY\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EAge:\\\\u0026nbsp;33\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003EBrooklyn, New York\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-242 (S-1) (FB)\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:46:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389205\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:27:44-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380864\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EEarlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Chad Barclay pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a victim, Jane Doe #1.\\\\u0026nbsp; Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Barclay stipulated that he kidnapped six additional women.\\\\u0026nbsp; The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.\\\\u0026nbsp;When sentenced, Barclay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years\\\\u2019 imprisonment and up to life in prison.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Victim and Admits to Kidnapping Six Other Women\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b68977d-e415-4bfb-b0c5-5fb180bebdf4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Human Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-edny\\\\/pr\\\\/brooklyn-man-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-victim-and-admits-kidnapping-six-other\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9a56ee71-b8db-45de-b7d4-4012d4ee622b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDuring the plea hearing, Barclay admitted that on Sept. 13, 2022, he enticed the victim to his residence to engage in commercial sex, where he robbed and sexually assaulted her. As part of plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023. For targeting five victims, Barclay was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment with interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnapping, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding in August 2023. Barclay was charged with a sex trafficking count for one of the original five victims and interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnaping, and other related charges for two additional victims in a second superseding indictment in May 2026.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,\\\\u201d said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department\\\\u2019s Criminal Division. \\\\u201cThis prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. \\\\u201cToday\\\\u2019s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking. We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.\\\\u201d\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cChad Barclay\\\\u2019s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity,\\\\u201d said Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle of the FBI\\\\u2019s New York Field Office. \\\\u201cThe FBI and NYPD\\\\u0027s joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBarclay faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI New York Field Office and the New York Police Department are investigating the case as part of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial Attorney Olimpia E. Michel of the Criminal Division\\\\u2019s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Palacio and Lorena Michelen for the Eastern District of New York and are prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:39:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385165\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"46370d9f-afee-4408-a29b-48812154bc0c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal Division\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"48a4c599-c2d1-4070-95dd-1f211453b3ad\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"552e5cc8-8b6c-48ac-894a-01aa6309f287\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - New York, Eastern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:20:47-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788384047\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"26-1013\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Trinidadian Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking in New York\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6b68977d-e415-4bfb-b0c5-5fb180bebdf4\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Human Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/opa\\\\/pr\\\\/trinidadian-foreign-national-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-new-york\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6e131ff5-251e-4f02-b96d-c3aab1fe4f9b\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECHARLOTTE, N.C. \\\\u2013 A federal jury in Charlotte returned a guilty verdict today against William Stanley, 25, and Heather Morrow, 45, both of Charlotte, for impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties of government employees; failure to comply with the lawful direction of an authorized individual; and obstructing the entrance on a federal property. Morrow was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with federal officers performing their official duties. Stanley was found not guilty of that offense. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew E. Orso presided over the trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on November 16, 2025, Morrow and Stanley, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement\\\\/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE\\\\/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building\\\\u2019s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460091\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/cones.jpg?itok=eyNfgbyq\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022488\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460101\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/vehicle.jpg?itok=wdb1juf8\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022492\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETrial evidence further established that Stanley and Morrow\\\\u2019s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer\\\\u2019s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460106\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/stanley.jpg?itok=vQPYIrUo\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022505\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022align-center entity-type-media entity-bundle-image media--image--s03 entity-image-1460096\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n \\\\n \\\\n \\\\u003Cdiv class=\\\\u0022field__item img_wrp\\\\u0022\\\\u003E \\\\u003Cimg loading=\\\\u0022lazy\\\\u0022 src=\\\\u0022\\\\/sites\\\\/default\\\\/files\\\\/styles\\\\/d03\\\\/public\\\\/2026-09\\\\/morrow.jpg?itok=5zIssUN2\\\\u0022 width=\\\\u0022300\\\\u0022 height=\\\\u0022527\\\\u0022 alt=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \\\\u0022 title=\\\\u0022U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\n\\\\n \\\\u003C\\\\/div\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EU.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged attesting to place Stanley in custody.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe defendants were released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Smith and Caryn Finley prosecuted the case\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T20:10:10-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788394210\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a3cf7a6c-ad7c-407e-b784-f06a9a16e36e\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - North Carolina, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T18:47:35-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788389255\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":[{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460091\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"0e16e211-0789-42a2-84e5-6f3756b8199f\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property \\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460096\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"04e46019-6d8a-4ad1-b8ee-720d20127912\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was attempting to place Stanley in custody \\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460101\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"94601a0a-596d-44a4-b1ed-db1ad0d5d83d\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow\\\\u2019s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property \\\"},{\\\"file\\\":{\\\"id\\\":\\\"1460106\\\",\\\"resource\\\":\\\"file\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"7f445ab3-3e94-4fd0-800d-39d4cb7122a0\\\"},\\\"alt\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow \\\\u2013 On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer\\\\u2019s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property \\\"}],\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Federal Jury Convicts Man and Woman of Interfering with Federal Officers Performing Official Duties and Related Offenses \\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdnc\\\\/pr\\\\/federal-jury-convicts-man-and-woman-interfering-federal-officers-performing-official\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ef742d0c-e9a6-4790-a155-ceb4c5248b5d\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EWASHINGTON \\\\u2013 Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia,\\\\u0026nbsp;was sentenced\\\\u0026nbsp;today in U.S. District Court\\\\u0026nbsp;to\\\\u0026nbsp;50\\\\u0026nbsp;months in prison\\\\u0026nbsp;in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.\\\\u202f\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EPonson pleaded guilty\\\\u0026nbsp;on May 29\\\\u0026nbsp;before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interfe\n\n[...truncated 13350 characters...]\n\nally significant items are more than objects, they are a connection to history, traditions, and identity,\\\\u201d said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. \\\\u201cWe are honored to help return these items to their rightful home and uphold the federal government\\\\u2019s commitment to protecting the heritage and sovereignty of the Osage Nation.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe remaining archaeological materials will be handled using appropriate cultural resource protocols to ensure respectful treatment and disposition in accordance with federal law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe civil forfeiture action was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick in coordination with a related criminal prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Barnes and Cari Walsh. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly made the recovery and restoration of these artifacts possible.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:59:53-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788386393\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T15:43:14-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788378194\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that a collection of culturally significant Native American artifacts has been returned to the Osage Nation after the conclusion of a civil forfeiture action involving items unlawfully removed from federal lands near Harry S. Truman Lake.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office Returns Culturally Significant Artifacts to Osage Nation Following Civil Forfeiture Judgment\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/us-attorneys-office-returns-culturally-significant-artifacts-osage-nation-following\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9eb7098d-5307-4950-aa0d-472c8919964c\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 Yesterday, a district court judge sentenced an East St. Louis man to 15 years of federal imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm. This was the maximum sentence allowable by law.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAnthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, was\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdil\\\\/pr\\\\/jury-convicts-prior-felon-unlawful-possession-firearm\\\\u0022\\\\u003Efound guilty by a federal jury in May\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Bradley has several prior criminal convictions, including a state conviction for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cThis convicted murderer got out of state prison and carried a loaded gun, modified to function as a machine gun, through a public housing complex,\\\\u201d said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. \\\\u201cWe did not plead this case out. We tried it, the jury spoke, and he got the maximum sentence in federal prison. As he should.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe evidence presented at trial revealed that in October 2024 Bradley was observed possessing a firearm by law enforcement officers during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis. The firearm was loaded with fourteen rounds of ammunition and had a machinegun conversion device installed. In October 2024, Bradley was under federal supervised release for a prior firearms offense.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cblockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cBecause of the persistence of the Illinois State Police and our partners getting guns and dangerous criminals off the street, this convicted felon will spend years in a federal prison,\\\\u201d said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u201cConvicted felons who repeatedly break the law threaten public safety and the Illinois State Police will continue to dedicate resources to protect our communities.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/blockquote\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing imprisonment, Bradley will serve three years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a part of\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/dag\\\\/media\\\\/1393746\\\\/dl?inline\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003EOperation Take Back America\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:42:52-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385372\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"6938e385-3d03-4e91-aec7-2c7a1c52077d\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Illinois, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:34:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788384885\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Previously Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 15-Year Maximum for New Federal Gun Crime\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"22aab3d6-17bc-40e1-ba47-aacd1ebcb261\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Operation Take Back America\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdil\\\\/pr\\\\/previously-convicted-murderer-sentenced-15-year-maximum-new-federal-gun-crime\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"b92725a8-24e0-43fb-9023-4f2e4af47df2\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELAREDO, Texas \\\\u2013 A 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ERolando Soliz pleaded guilty Sept. 16, 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Soliz to serve 110 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing Sept. 1, the court heard additional evidence to include details about Soliz\\\\u2019s extensive criminal history as well as his possession of large amounts of cash and 10 different firearms, one of which was a short-barreled rifle converted to operate as a machine gun. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kazen noted his conviction was for distributing fentanyl during a time when it was killing more and more people in the community. He also noted his extensive criminal history including four prior felony convictions.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe investigation, which began July 11, 2024, indicated Soliz had been engaged in multiple transactions involving fentanyl in the Laredo area.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaw enforcement set up surveillance at Soliz\\\\u2019s apartment and witnessed multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions. A subsequent traffic stop resulted in the discovery of fentanyl that had been obtained from Soliz at his residence.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EOn July 31, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Soliz\\\\u2019s apartment and discovered 24.8 grams of fentanyl inside a toilet bowl. They had also searched his mother\\\\u2019s residence. As a result of the warrants at both locations, law enforcement seized the drugs, over $16,000 in cash, and multiple firearms.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ESoliz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Webb County District Attorney\\\\u2019s Office; and Webb County Constables Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T13:06:45-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788368805\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"9df3ecc7-70b1-4129-a052-089bce8b2ba2\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Texas, Southern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T12:59:42-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788368382\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Firearm-wielding fentanyl dealer sentenced to over 100 months\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-sdtx\\\\/pr\\\\/firearm-wielding-fentanyl-dealer-sentenced-over-100-months\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"19a550ce-fbc1-4371-96c6-871920cffb16\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ETULSA, Okla. \\\\u2013 A Tulsa man was indicted on several counts related to sexually assaulting women and is now detained,\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003Epending trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EDeleon Milford Cooks, 24, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with two counts of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; two counts of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAssault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; one count of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ECarrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; two counts of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAssault of an Intimate\\\\/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E; and one count of \\\\u003Cem\\\\u003ESexual Abuse without Consent in Indian Country.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ECourt documents show that Cooks is indicted for knowingly forcing two victims to engage in sexual activity and placing them in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping. He is accused of assaulting both victims with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Cooks also strangled both victims and engaged in a sexual act with one victim without her consent.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EThe FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Deleon Milford Cooks. The FBI believes he primarily targeted women from 2023 through 2026. If you were victimized by Deleon Milford Cooks or have information relevant to this investigation, \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/www.fbi.gov\\\\/how-we-can-help-you\\\\/victim-services\\\\/seeking-victim-information\\\\/seeking-victim-information-in-deleon-cooks-investigation\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eplease fill out the Seeking Information Questionnaire\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003Ethe case.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EAn indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cbr\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Ecourt of law.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T09:10:39-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788354639\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"dca09ceb-4978-4466-9c30-ce9f5ada2f0a\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"55929f4b-7f27-4550-a43e-46621532d901\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Oklahoma, Northern\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-01T14:43:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788288187\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EA Tulsa man was indicted on several counts related to sexually assaulting women and is now detained, pending trial.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Tulsa Man Indicted for Sexual Assault and the FBI is Seeking to Identify Potential Victims\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c99924c1-10c0-48c8-94b6-191166edda32\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Indian Country Law and Justice\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"a898e23f-25bb-4b59-a0db-23aae529cd38\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Violent Crime\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-ndok\\\\/pr\\\\/tulsa-man-indicted-sexual-assault-and-fbi-seeking-identify-potential-victims\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"c0a3555d-a0a5-49d5-b083-ef73417262a7\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. \\\\u2013 A Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBryan Isiah Thomas was previously charged in a two-count indictment filed in the Western District of Missouri on July 21, 2026. A federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. returned a superseding indictment today alleging that Thomas distributed fentanyl in Cole County on three separate occasions in March\\\\u0026nbsp; 2026, including one occasion where the fentanyl caused the death of another.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan T. Duenckel. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Callaway County Sheriff\\\\u2019s Office.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:45:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385533\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"ad71fc95-287d-47f8-b7bc-bdb68e73159c\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Missouri, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T17:41:58-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788385318\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EBryan Isiah Thomas, 37 Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Jefferson City Man Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdmo\\\\/pr\\\\/jefferson-city-man-indicted-distribution-fentanyl-resulting-death\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"56740ddf-6216-422f-99d6-5e843adccea6\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EHARRISBURG - The United States Attorney\\\\u2019s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marco Laboy-Torres, age 47, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 1, 2026, to 144 months\\\\u2019 imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Laboy-Torres was sentenced for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy where over five kilograms of cocaine were delivered by mail from Puerto Rico and trafficked in York.\\\\u0026nbsp; Laboy-Torres also possessed a short-barreled firearm in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003ELaboy-Torres previously pled guilty for his role in the conspiracy. Robert Nelson, age 62, York, and Luis Valentin-Hernandez, age 50, York, are charged for their roles in the conspiracy. Both defendants are pending trial in November 2026.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice\\\\u2019s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys\\\\u2019 offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department\\\\u2019s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump\\\\u2019s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThe maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EIndictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E# # #\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:30:27-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373827\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"de9dd3d2-39e6-410d-ba2c-fc0f5d503f88\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T14:29:25-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788373765\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"York Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy And Firearms\\\",\\\"topic\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68fd7404-ffa3-406d-a98c-0a9fd0b95784\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Project Safe Neighborhoods\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"68eea121-fc07-4c11-80e2-587b140b79b1\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Drug Trafficking\\\"},{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"fefd28ee-ccc0-4f66-a585-8a61b66ed5c8\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"Firearms Offenses\\\"}],\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-mdpa\\\\/pr\\\\/york-man-sentenced-12-years-prison-cocaine-trafficking-conspiracy-and-firearms\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"e5440e22-4bbf-442c-a9eb-26beb8412f4f\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Lytrice Adams, 36\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp; D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking operation in Hardin County, Tennessee. \\\\u0026nbsp;During the investigation, agents utilized controlled purchases of methamphetamine, Title III wiretaps, and other investigative tactics. \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EUsing wiretap interceptions, agents identified Alveto Higgins\\\\u2014who was then residing in Middle Tennessee\\\\u2014as the supplier of the operation. \\\\u0026nbsp;The controlled purchases were made from Adams and Higgins at Adams\\\\u2019s residence in Savannah.\\\\u0026nbsp; Agents were ultimately able to purchase over 350 grams of actual methamphetamine from Adams and Higgins.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EFollowing her guilty plea to distributing methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Adams to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.\\\\u0026nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.\\\\u0026nbsp; Higgins has also pled guilty in this case, and he will be sentenced later this year.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, \\\\u0022Using various methods, techniques, sources, and strategies, we are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations. Drug dealers can no longer hide in any part of the Western District of Tennessee, and this sentence demonstrates our commitment to remove poison peddlers from our streets.\\\\u0022\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u201cDrug dealers like Lytrice Adams, who poison our communities and display little to no empathy for their victims, should expect to meet the full weight of our justice system,\\\\u201d said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.\\\\u0026nbsp; \\\\u201cThe lengthy sentence handed down today should give Ms. Adams time to reflect on her criminal actions and hopefully she\\\\u2019ll come out of prison a better person.\\\\u201d\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EThis case was investigated by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). \\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAssistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp class=\\\\u0022text-align-center\\\\u0022\\\\u003E###\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EFor more information, please contact the media relations team at \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022mailto:USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003EUSATNW.Media@usdoj.gov\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E. Follow the U.S. Attorney\\\\u2019s Office \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2Fa9UhD2Prx8nIY-6djnGphQDbShTcuPoA1ztwg7nk7Fg=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a063b59319-e434b725-c3c5-44d9-a9de-3ab39cc6a016-000000\\\\/ecJaEskaVd38BknpLA3QMBme3SyLHTGv8OzHzkKbMDM=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eon Facebook\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E or \\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003Ca href=\\\\u0022https:\\\\/\\\\/links-2.govdelivery.com\\\\/CL0\\\\/https:%2F%2Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fprotect2.fireeye.com%252Fv1%252Furl%253Fk=1ccf5694-7982ef19-1cc87271-74fe48680e18-429ea4c66a6734da%2526q=1%2526e=160013ce-d024-44a4-8061-4f5534e7d3ee%2526u=https%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwitter.com%25252FWDTNNews%2F1%2F0101019a4b8e4fbe-98b5cd8a-7fca-4a5b-9da0-04130486e5db-000000%2FamSIP6DtqegVIpgurWZC34y6s_PeEiF-k7QfKo-xkgA=429\\\\/1\\\\/010101a063b59319-e434b725-c3c5-44d9-a9de-3ab39cc6a016-000000\\\\/6YIdwiwpTVJ6xWimGuALh_PNWrFC1sAXq8GfVzy_iNw=452\\\\u0022 target=\\\\u0022_blank\\\\u0022\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003Eon X\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/a\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cem\\\\u003E at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.\\\\u003C\\\\/em\\\\u003E\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"changed\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:13:33-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788380013\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"component\\\":[{\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"09ab4078-eaac-4d82-8ebf-cf84fb74f272\\\",\\\"name\\\":\\\"USAO - Tennessee, Western\\\"}],\\\"created\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Ctime datetime=\\\\u00222026-09-02T16:09:07-04:00\\\\u0022\\\\u003E1788379747\\\\u003C\\\\/time\\\\u003E\\\\n\\\",\\\"date\\\":\\\"1788350400\\\",\\\"image\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"number\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"teaser\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, TN \\\\u2013\\\\u0026nbsp;Lytrice Adams, 36\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.\\\\u0026nbsp; D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a...\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\",\\\"title\\\":\\\"Hardin County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine\\\",\\\"topic\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"url\\\":\\\"https:\\\\/\\\\/www.justice.gov\\\\/usao-wdtn\\\\/pr\\\\/hardin-county-woman-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-distributing-methamphetamine\\\",\\\"uuid\\\":\\\"954f33c7-b1b2-45ec-8c93-f13e2ea7f866\\\"},{\\\"attachment\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"body\\\":\\\"\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cstrong\\\\u003EJackson, MS\\\\u003C\\\\/strong\\\\u003E \\\\u2013 On September 2, 2026, a Pearl River man pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EAccording to court documents, Benjamin E. Stephens, 43, embezzled approximately $200,000 from the Choctaw Rental Housing Program while working as an employee of the Tribal program. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2025.\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EU.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Robert Eikhoff, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation\\\\u2019s Jackson Office, made the announcement.\\\\u0026nbsp;\\\\u003C\\\\/p\\\\u003E\\\\u003Cp\\\\u003EStephens is scheduled to be sent\n[...truncated]", "status": "completed", "tool_name": "web_fetch"}

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